Edmund C. Weeks
Encyclopedia
Edmund Cottle Weeks was an American politician who served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Florida
.
native, Weeks was born in the town of Tisbury
, on Martha's Vineyard
, to Captain Hiram Weeks and Margaret D. Cottle, a relative of New York Senator
Thomas C. Platt
. After accompanying his father on a voyage to South America, Weeks studied medicine for three years at the College of Physicians and Surgeons
in New York City. However, his love for the sea compelled him to become a sailor and later a partner in a boat operating firm. During the American Civil War
, he volunteered for the Union Navy
in the Battle of New Orleans
. He then headed the Union Army
's 2nd Florida Cavalry with the rank of major. After the war, he settled in Tallahassee, Florida
.
. He took the oath of office that same day. However, his appointment was controversial. State Comptroller
Robert H. Gamble, claiming that the Governor could not make an appointment to an elected position, refused to pay Weeks his salary until Weeks took the case to the Florida Supreme Court
. On his first day presiding over the Senate
, a majority of the senators walked out on the session. At the next day's meeting, another senator occupied his seat. After a motion was proposed to arrest him, he left early.
As Weeks's term was intended to be temporary, Governor Reed called for an election to be held on November 8. Samuel T. Day
was elected Lieutenant Governor, and when the legislature met on January 3, 1871, Day took office as prescribed by the state constitution. On January 12, Weeks again appealed to the Supreme Court, accusing Day of "usurping" his office, which he believed should last for two additional years, the remainder of his predecessor's term. However, the court ruled that Governor Reed had the power to call the election and that Weeks's appointment had expired on December 27, 1870, when the election results were certified.
in the Florida Legislature
, in the Florida House of Representatives
. and served as the county sheriff
. A Republican
, he ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives
against incumbent Robert H. M. Davidson
in 1878. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison
appointed him U.S. Marshal
for the Northern District of Florida.
Weeks married twice: first to Mary Jones in London, and then to Elizabeth Hunt Crafts in Tallahassee on June 6, 1890. He died in Tallahassee in 1907 at the age of 78.
Lieutenant Governor of Florida
The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the Governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of Governor if it...
.
Early life
A MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
native, Weeks was born in the town of Tisbury
Tisbury, Massachusetts
Tisbury is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,755 at the 2000 census.Vineyard Haven is the main village/town center of Tisbury. The two names are used interchangeably...
, on Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
, to Captain Hiram Weeks and Margaret D. Cottle, a relative of New York Senator
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...
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
. After accompanying his father on a voyage to South America, Weeks studied medicine for three years at the College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
in New York City. However, his love for the sea compelled him to become a sailor and later a partner in a boat operating firm. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he volunteered for the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
in the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans (Civil War)
The Capture of New Orleans during the American Civil War was an important event for the Union. Having fought past Forts Jackson and St. Philip, the Union was unopposed in its capture of the city itself, which was spared the destruction suffered by many other Southern cities...
. He then headed the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
's 2nd Florida Cavalry with the rank of major. After the war, he settled in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
.
Lieutenant governorship
Weeks was appointed to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Florida by Governor Harrison Reed on January 24, 1870, to fill the vacancy left after the dismissal of William H. GleasonWilliam Henry Gleason
William Henry Gleason was an American politician from Florida. He was Florida's second Lieutenant Governor and was very briefly, acting Governor.-Early life:...
. He took the oath of office that same day. However, his appointment was controversial. State Comptroller
Florida Comptroller
The Florida Comptroller was the state comptroller of Florida from 1845 to 2003...
Robert H. Gamble, claiming that the Governor could not make an appointment to an elected position, refused to pay Weeks his salary until Weeks took the case to the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
. On his first day presiding over the Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
, a majority of the senators walked out on the session. At the next day's meeting, another senator occupied his seat. After a motion was proposed to arrest him, he left early.
As Weeks's term was intended to be temporary, Governor Reed called for an election to be held on November 8. Samuel T. Day
Samuel T. Day
Samuel T. Day was an American physician, plantation owner, and politician who served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Florida, from January 3, 1871, to June 3, 1872....
was elected Lieutenant Governor, and when the legislature met on January 3, 1871, Day took office as prescribed by the state constitution. On January 12, Weeks again appealed to the Supreme Court, accusing Day of "usurping" his office, which he believed should last for two additional years, the remainder of his predecessor's term. However, the court ruled that Governor Reed had the power to call the election and that Weeks's appointment had expired on December 27, 1870, when the election results were certified.
Later life
Weeks later represented Leon CountyLeon County, Florida
Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
in the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
, in the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
. and served as the county sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
. A 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...
, he ran unsuccessfully for the 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...
against incumbent Robert H. M. Davidson
Robert H. M. Davidson
Robert Hamilton McWhorta Davidson was a U.S. Representative from Florida.Born near Quincy, Florida, Davidson attended the common schools and the Quincy Academy in Quincy, Florida....
in 1878. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
appointed him U.S. Marshal
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
for the Northern District of Florida.
Weeks married twice: first to Mary Jones in London, and then to Elizabeth Hunt Crafts in Tallahassee on June 6, 1890. He died in Tallahassee in 1907 at the age of 78.