George Earle Chamberlain
Encyclopedia
George Earle Chamberlain (January 1, 1854 July 9, 1928) was an American politician, legislator, and public official in Oregon
. A native of Mississippi
and trained lawyer, he served as the 11th Governor of Oregon
, a representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
, a United States Senator.
, he attended private and public schools in Natchez, was clerk in a general merchandise store there from 1870 to 1872. He graduated from the academic and law departments of Washington and Lee University
in 1876, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Fraternity. In December 1876 he moved to Oregon, where he found a teaching position near Albany
. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar, and from 1878 to 1879, he was clerk of Linn County
. In 1878 he served in the Linn County Rifles, a volunteer militia formed to combat hostile Indians in eastern Oregon (probably the Bannock War
.)
from 1880 to 1882, and was district attorney for the third judicial district from 1884 to 1886. He was appointed attorney general
of Oregon, holding that office from 1891 to 1894.
In 1902, Chamberlain was elected Governor of Oregon
, was reelected in 1906. In 1908 he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate; he was reelected in 1914 and served from March 4, 1909, to March 4, 1921. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Senate in 1920; while a Senator, he was chairman of the Committee on Geological Survey (Sixty-second Congress) and a member of the Committee on Military Affairs (Sixty-third through Sixty-fifth Congresses), the Committee on Public Lands (Sixty-third Congress), and the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department (Sixty-sixth Congress). The Chamberlain Military Preparedness Bill of 1918, which he wrote, bears his name.
from 1921 to 1923 and engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C.; he died there in 1928, and interment was in Arlington National Cemetery
.
John Archer
and Stevenson Archer
, both United States Representatives from Maryland
, were Chamberlain's grandfather and great-grandfather, respectively.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and trained lawyer, he served as the 11th Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
, a representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
, a United States Senator.
Early life
Chamberlain was born near Natchez, MississippiNatchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, he attended private and public schools in Natchez, was clerk in a general merchandise store there from 1870 to 1872. He graduated from the academic and law departments of Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in 1876, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
Fraternity. In December 1876 he moved to Oregon, where he found a teaching position near Albany
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar, and from 1878 to 1879, he was clerk of Linn County
Linn County, Oregon
Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census...
. In 1878 he served in the Linn County Rifles, a volunteer militia formed to combat hostile Indians in eastern Oregon (probably the Bannock War
Bannock War
The Bannock War was a series of conflicts in 1878 between various Bannock, Northern Shoshone and Paiute tribes against the United States.- Background :...
.)
Political career
He was a member of the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
from 1880 to 1882, and was district attorney for the third judicial district from 1884 to 1886. He was appointed attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Oregon, holding that office from 1891 to 1894.
In 1902, Chamberlain was elected Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
, was reelected in 1906. In 1908 he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate; he was reelected in 1914 and served from March 4, 1909, to March 4, 1921. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Senate in 1920; while a Senator, he was chairman of the Committee on Geological Survey (Sixty-second Congress) and a member of the Committee on Military Affairs (Sixty-third through Sixty-fifth Congresses), the Committee on Public Lands (Sixty-third Congress), and the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department (Sixty-sixth Congress). The Chamberlain Military Preparedness Bill of 1918, which he wrote, bears his name.
Later years
He was a member of the United States Shipping BoardUnited States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
from 1921 to 1923 and engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C.; he died there in 1928, and interment was in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
John Archer
John Archer
-People:*John Archer *John Archer *John Archer , British politician, first person of African descent elected to public office*John Archer , former U.S...
and Stevenson Archer
Stevenson Archer (1786-1848)
Stevenson Archer was a United States Representative from Maryland, representing the sixth district from 1811 to 1817, and the seventh district from 1819 to 1821. His son Stevenson Archer and father John Archer were also U.S...
, both United States Representatives from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, were Chamberlain's grandfather and great-grandfather, respectively.
See also
- George Earle Chamberlain HouseGeorge Earle Chamberlain House (Portland, Oregon)The George Earle Chamberlain House is a house located in northeast Portland, Oregon, listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The house was built in 1893 and its original owner was Frank M. Warren...
- National Irrigation CongressNational Irrigation CongressThe National Irrigation Congress was held periodically in the Western United States beginning in 1891 and ending in 1916, by which time the organization had changed its name to International Irrigation Congress. It was a "powerful pressure group."...