James McMillan Shafter was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 politician serving in Vermont, Wisconsin, and California.

Born in Athens, Vermont

Athens, Vermont

Athens is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 340 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.1 square miles , of which 13.0 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...

, Shafter graduated from Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...

 and was admitted to the Vermont bar. In 1841, he served in the Vermont House of Representatives

Vermont House of Representatives

The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...

 and from 1842 to 1849, Shafter was the Secretary of State of Vermont

Secretary of State of Vermont

The Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont is located at 128 State Street.The Secretary of State of Vermont is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. The Office of the Secretary of State is located at 128 State St. in...

. In 1850, he moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...

 and was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly

Wisconsin State Assembly

The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....

. In 1852, Shafter served as speaker of the Assembly. In 1856, he then moved to California where he practiced law and raised cattle and horses. In 1862, Shafter served in the California State Senate

California State Senate

The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...

 and was President Pro Tempore

President pro tempore

A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...

 of the California Senate. Shafter also served in the California Constitution Convention of 1878 and was on the University of California Board of Regents ex offico as President of the California State Agricultural Association. In 1889, Shafter was judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court

San Francisco County Superior Court

The San Francisco County Superior Court is one of the Superior Courts of California....

.