Lewis F. Byington | |
---|---|
17th District Attorney of San Francisco | |
In office 1900–1905 | |
Preceded by | Daniel J. Murphy |
Succeeded by | William H. Langdon |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 's 24th district | |
In office 1877 - 1879 | |
San Francisco Supervisor | |
In office 1898–1900 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Lewis Francis Byington (1868-05-24)May 24, 1868 |
Died | May 7, 1943(1943-05-07) (aged 74) San Francisco, California |
Resting place | Holy Cross Mausoleum |
Political party | Democratic |
Profession | Lawyer |
Lewis Francis Byington (May 24, 1868 – May 7, 1943) was an American lawyer, author, and Democratic Party politician who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1898–1900) and as District Attorney of San Francisco (1900–1905).
Early life and education
Byington was born on May 24, 1868, in Downieville, California. He was the son of Robert Lewis Byington and Catherine Freehill Byington.
Byington went to public school in Downieville. He graduated from Santa Clara College, now the University of Santa Clara. In 1887, he graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. He subsequently practiced law in San Francisco.
Career
Lewis Byington was a member of the California bar. He practiced in the Supreme Court and Federal Courts of California.
California legislature
On August 31, 1877, Byington was elected to the California State Assembly for the 24 district for Serra and Nevada Counties.
San Francisco government
In 1898, Byington was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
On November 8, 1899, he was elected San Francisco District Attorney, serving from 1900 until 1905. As District Attorney, he prosecuted the murderer Cordelia Botkin. He was re-elected twice.
Byington was president of the San Francisco Civil Service Commission under Mayor James Rolph.
Private life and affiliations
Byington was unmarried. In retirement, he made his home in San Francisco.
He was vice president of the California Historic Landmarks League and served as president of the Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW). On September 15, 1912, Byington acted as chairman of the ceremonies during the dedication of the new NSGW building. He addressed the audience during the dedication, describing the history and challenges of its completion.
Death
On May 7, 1943, Byington died of pneumonia at Stanford Hospital in San Francisco. He was buried at the Holy Cross Mausoleum.
Publications
Byington wrote the following books:
- Byington, Lewis Francis (1931). The History of San Francisco. S. J. Clarke. OCLC 9592779. OL 6768917M.
- Byington, Lewis Francis. Downieville and its Historic Past. OCLC 83751114.
- Byington, Lewis Francis. Sierra County and its Historic Past. OCLC 54234050.
See also
San Francisco District Attorneys
References
- ^ San Francisco and its Municipal Administration 1902, Hon. Lewis F. Byington, page 46
- ^ "L. F. Byington Dies in S.F." Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. 1943-05-07. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- Byington, Lewis, The National Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1941
- San Francisco: its builders, past and present, pictorial, p. 249
- "Encyclopedia of American biography. New series". American Historical Society. New York. 1895. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- "General Election, AD-24 Lewis F. Byington". www.joincalifornia.com. September 4, 1877. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- "Legislative Nominees". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. August 31, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- "Doyle Host At Birthday Fete". Santa Rosa Republican. Santa Rosa, California. May 31, 1935. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- "Officials Certain Of Election". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. November 8, 1899. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- "TWO LEADING FIGURES IN THE RECENT BOTKIN MURDER TRIAL]". the Tacoma Times. 1904-04-30. Retrieved 2015-08-16 – via Chronicling America.
- "Lewis F. Byington". San Francisco Chronicle. 12 Jan 1916, Wed • Page 40. 12 January 1916. p. 40. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- Reno Evening Gazette, Sept. 14, 1931, p. 15.
- "Native Sons Dedicate New Building". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. 16 Sep 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
External links
- Lewis Francis Byington at Find a Grave
- San Francisco, Its Builders, Past and Present: Pictorial and Biographical
- 1868 births
- 1943 deaths
- Lawyers from San Francisco
- Santa Clara University alumni
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco alumni
- People from Downieville, California
- Members of the California State Assembly
- District attorneys in California
- 19th-century members of the California State Legislature