Arthur Yager
Encyclopedia
Arthur Yager served as Governor of Puerto Rico
from 1913 to 1921.
Yager was born in Campbellsburg
in Henry County
, Kentucky
. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from Georgetown College in Kentucky, and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University
. Yager then became a professor of history, economics, and politics at Georgetown College while becoming active in politics. He served as President of Georgetown College from 1908 to 1913.
In 1913, President
Woodrow Wilson
, a fellow Democrat
who had been a classmate of Yager's when both attended Johns Hopkins University
, appointed Yager to the governorship of Puerto Rico. During Yager's administration, and with his support, the United States Congress
adopted the Jones-Shafroth Act
(also called Jones Act) of 1917, which conferred United States
citizenship
on Puerto Ricans
.
Yager served as governor until Wilson's presidency expired. He was succeeded by Emmet Montgomery Reily
, an appointee of President Warren G. Harding
. Yager returned to Kentucky, where he died in Pewee Valley at the age of 83.
A collection of Yager's correspondence from his time as Governor is archived at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky
and open for research.
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
from 1913 to 1921.
Yager was born in Campbellsburg
Campbellsburg, Kentucky
Campbellsburg is a city in Henry County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbellsburg is located at ....
in Henry County
Henry County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,060 people, 5,844 households, and 4,330 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 6,381 housing units at an average density of...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from Georgetown College in Kentucky, and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. Yager then became a professor of history, economics, and politics at Georgetown College while becoming active in politics. He served as President of Georgetown College from 1908 to 1913.
In 1913, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, a fellow Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who had been a classmate of Yager's when both attended Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, appointed Yager to the governorship of Puerto Rico. During Yager's administration, and with his support, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
adopted the Jones-Shafroth Act
Jones-Shafroth Act
The Jones–Shafroth Act was a 1917 Act of the United States Congress by which Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens, the people of Puerto Rico were empowered to have a popularly-elected Senate, established a bill of rights, and authorized the election of a Resident Commissioner to a...
(also called Jones Act) of 1917, which conferred United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
on Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Yager served as governor until Wilson's presidency expired. He was succeeded by Emmet Montgomery Reily
Emmet Montgomery Reily
Emmet Montgomery Reily , sometimes E. Mont Reily, was a Texas and, later, Missouri politician who served a number of local offices, especially in Fort Worth and Kansas City. He was active in the Republican Party. He was later appointed as Governor of Puerto Rico by President Warren G...
, an appointee of President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
. Yager returned to Kentucky, where he died in Pewee Valley at the age of 83.
A collection of Yager's correspondence from his time as Governor is archived at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and open for research.