John Latta (politician)
John Latta (March 2, 1836 – February 15, 1913) was an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania who served as the first Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1879. He also served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1872 to 1873 and the Pennsylvania Senate from 1863 to 1866.
John Latta | |
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1st Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania | |
In office January 19, 1875 – January 21, 1879 | |
Governor | John F. Hartranft |
Succeeded by | Charles Warren Stone |
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
In office 1872-1873 | |
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 23rd district | |
In office 1865-1866 | |
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district | |
In office 1863-1864 | |
Personal details | |
Born | March 2, 1836 |
Died | February 15, 1913 (aged 76) |
Political party | Democratic |
Early life and education
Latta was born in Unity Township, Pennsylvania to Moses and Eliza (Graham) Latta. He was educated at Sewickley Academy and Elder's Ridge Academy. He read law under D.H. Hazen in Pittsburgh,[1] entered Yale Law School in 1857 and graduated in 1859. He was admitted to the Westmoreland County bar in 1859 and opened a law firm in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.[2] In 1865, he married Emma Hope and together they had 4 children.[3]
Career
He served as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district 1863 to 1864 and for the 23rd district from 1865 to 1866. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1872 to 1873.[4] Under the new Pennsylvania Constitution that went into effect on January 1, 1874,[5] he was the first elected lieutenant governor and served under Republican Governor John Hartranft.[6]
He died on February 15, 1913 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and was interred at St. Clair Cemetery.[7]
References
- Tuttle, Roger W. (1911). Biographies of Graduates of the Yale Law School 1824-1899. New Haven: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company. p. 216. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- Boucher, John Newton (1918). Old and New Westmoreland. New York: The American Historical Society, Inc. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- Jordan, John W. (1906). History of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. New York: The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- "Pennsylvania House of Representatives - JOHN LATTA Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- Wiley, Samuel T. (1890). Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: John M. Gresham & Co. pp. 121–122. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- "Pennsylvania Senate - John Latta Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- "John Latta". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
External links
Pennsylvania State Senate | ||
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Preceded by Smith Fuller |
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate, 22nd district 1863-1864 |
Succeeded by Thomas St. Clair |
Preceded by William Hopkins |
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate, 23rd district 1865-1866 |
Succeeded by Miles S. Humphreys |
Pennsylvania House of Representatives | ||
Preceded by |
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1872-1873 |
Succeeded by |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Position created |
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 1875–1879 |
Succeeded by Charles W. Stone |