Compton I. White
Encyclopedia
Compton Ignatius White, Sr. (July 31, 1877-March 31, 1956) was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Idaho
, who served in the United States House of Representatives
, chairing a committee.
. He moved during early childhood to Rankin County, Mississippi
, and then to Clark Fork, Idaho
in 1890. He attended Metropolitan Business College in Chicago, Illinois, and Gonzaga University
in Spokane, Washington
; after graduating in 1897, he worked on railroads in a number of capacities, as a trainman, conductor, and telegraph operator, until 1910.
After this stretch, he worked in lumber
, mining
, and livestock
raising; he was also a member of the Clark Fork Board of Trustees. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1928, 1932, and 1936, during which period he rose to prominence as a politician.
White first sought election to Congress during the 1930 election; he gained the Democratic nomination, but was not elected. In 1932, however, he defeated longtime Republican
incumbent Burton L. French
, as Franklin D. Roosevelt
's landslide victory swept the nation. He was re-elected to six addition terms in all, serving from 1933 to 1947.
While in Congress, White chaired the currently-defunct Irrigation committee, and also was a member of the Committee on Coins, Weights and Measures. He sought re-election in the 1946 race, but was defeated by Republican Abe M. Goff.
In the 1948 election, however, he was returned to the House, defeating Goff's bid for re-election. In the 1950 election, he sought the Democratic nomination for Senate
, but didn't receive it. In the 1952 race, he sought the Democratic nomination for his old House seat, but again, didn't receive the nod. He retired to Idaho and took up livestock and mining again; he died in Spokane, Washington.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, who served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, chairing a committee.
Biography
White was born in Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. He moved during early childhood to Rankin County, Mississippi
Rankin County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,327 people, 42,089 households, and 31,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 149 people per square mile . There were 45,070 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile...
, and then to Clark Fork, Idaho
Clark Fork, Idaho
Clark Fork is a city in Bonner County, Idaho, United States. The population was 536 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Clark Fork is located at ....
in 1890. He attended Metropolitan Business College in Chicago, Illinois, and Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
; after graduating in 1897, he worked on railroads in a number of capacities, as a trainman, conductor, and telegraph operator, until 1910.
After this stretch, he worked in lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
raising; he was also a member of the Clark Fork Board of Trustees. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1928, 1932, and 1936, during which period he rose to prominence as a politician.
White first sought election to Congress during the 1930 election; he gained the Democratic nomination, but was not elected. In 1932, however, he defeated longtime Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Burton L. French
Burton L. French
Burton Lee French was a United States Representative from Idaho. French served as a Republican in the House from 1903 to 1909, 1911 to 1915 and 1917 to 1933. With a combined 26 years in office, he remains the longest-serving U.S...
, as Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's landslide victory swept the nation. He was re-elected to six addition terms in all, serving from 1933 to 1947.
While in Congress, White chaired the currently-defunct Irrigation committee, and also was a member of the Committee on Coins, Weights and Measures. He sought re-election in the 1946 race, but was defeated by Republican Abe M. Goff.
In the 1948 election, however, he was returned to the House, defeating Goff's bid for re-election. In the 1950 election, he sought the Democratic nomination for Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but didn't receive it. In the 1952 race, he sought the Democratic nomination for his old House seat, but again, didn't receive the nod. He retired to Idaho and took up livestock and mining again; he died in Spokane, Washington.