William Washington Larsen
Encyclopedia
William Washington Larsen (August 12, 1871 – January 5, 1938) was a United States Representative
from Georgia
.
. He attended the Bryan Institute in Lanier, Georgia, the South Georgia Military Academy in Thomasville, Georgia
, and the University of Georgia
in Athens
; however, he did not graduate. He taught school in 1895, studied law, gained admittance to the state bar in 1897 and became a practicing attorney in Swainsboro, Georgia
. He served as a second lieutenant in the Swainsboro Guards, Company C, of the Georgia National Guard
from 1900 to 1904.
In 1899, Larsen became the prosecuting attorney for the city court of Swainsboro and remained in that position through 1905. He also was a member of the council and mayor pro tempore
of Swainsboro from 1905 to 1909. In 1912, he joined the board of trustees of the Georgia State Normal School
in Athens and remained on that board until 1927. He served as a delegate to the 1902, 1906 and 1912 Democratic State conventions. After serving as the secretary of the executive department of the state of Georgia from 1910 to 1912, Larsen moved to Dublin, Georgia
in January 1912. He began practicing law again and was involved in farming. He became a judge of the superior courts of the Dublin circuit in 1914 and 1915.
to the 65th United States Congress
representing Georgia's 12th congressional district
. He was reelected to that position for seven additional terms and did not seek reelection in 1932 as the 12th district became defunct after congressional apportionment reduced Georgia's number of seats in the U.S. House from twelve to ten.
Larsen joined the board of trustees of the University of Georgia in 1927, continued to serve as the board transitioned to the Georgia Board of Regents
on January 1, 1932 and remained on that board through 1938. He was a regional manager for the Farm Credit Administration
headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina
from 1933 until his resignation in 1936. He won an appointment to the Georgia Unemployment Insurance Commission in 1937 and served until his death in Dublin on January 5, 1938. He was buried in that city's Northview Cemetery.
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...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Personal life
Larsen was born in Hagan, GeorgiaHagan, Georgia
Hagan is a city in Evans County, Georgia, United States. The population was 898 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hagan is located at ....
. He attended the Bryan Institute in Lanier, Georgia, the South Georgia Military Academy in Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
, and the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
; however, he did not graduate. He taught school in 1895, studied law, gained admittance to the state bar in 1897 and became a practicing attorney in Swainsboro, Georgia
Swainsboro, Georgia
Swainsboro is a city located in Emanuel County, Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,943. The city is the county seat of Emanuel County.-Geography:...
. He served as a second lieutenant in the Swainsboro Guards, Company C, of the Georgia National Guard
Georgia National Guard
The Georgia National Guard is the National Guard of the U.S state of Georgia consists of the Georgia Army National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard...
from 1900 to 1904.
In 1899, Larsen became the prosecuting attorney for the city court of Swainsboro and remained in that position through 1905. He also was a member of the council and mayor pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
of Swainsboro from 1905 to 1909. In 1912, he joined the board of trustees of the Georgia State Normal School
State Normal School (Athens, Georgia)
The State Normal School was a teaching college located in Athens, Georgia, United States, founded in 1891, whose function was later incorporated into the curricula of the University of Georgia...
in Athens and remained on that board until 1927. He served as a delegate to the 1902, 1906 and 1912 Democratic State conventions. After serving as the secretary of the executive department of the state of Georgia from 1910 to 1912, Larsen moved to Dublin, Georgia
Dublin, Georgia
Dublin is a city in Laurens County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 16,201. The city is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:The original settlement was named after the city Dublin, Ireland....
in January 1912. He began practicing law again and was involved in farming. He became a judge of the superior courts of the Dublin circuit in 1914 and 1915.
Professional life
In 1916, Larsen was elected as a DemocratDemocratic 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...
to the 65th United States Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
representing Georgia's 12th congressional district
Georgia's 12th congressional district
Georgia's 12th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia covering much of the east central parts of the state. From the city of Augusta it runs southeast, along the state's border with South Carolina, to the city of Savannah, taking in such cities as...
. He was reelected to that position for seven additional terms and did not seek reelection in 1932 as the 12th district became defunct after congressional apportionment reduced Georgia's number of seats in the U.S. House from twelve to ten.
Larsen joined the board of trustees of the University of Georgia in 1927, continued to serve as the board transitioned to the Georgia Board of Regents
Georgia Board of Regents
The Georgia Board of Regents oversees the University System of Georgia as part of the state government of Georgia in the United States. The University System of Georgia is composed of all state public institutions of higher education.-History:...
on January 1, 1932 and remained on that board through 1938. He was a regional manager for the Farm Credit Administration
Farm Credit Administration
The Farm Credit Administration is an independent agency of the Executive Branch of the United States Government. It regulates and examines the banks, associations, and related entities of the Farm Credit System, a network of borrower-owned financial institutions that provide credit to farmers,...
headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
from 1933 until his resignation in 1936. He won an appointment to the Georgia Unemployment Insurance Commission in 1937 and served until his death in Dublin on January 5, 1938. He was buried in that city's Northview Cemetery.