Albert W. Gilchrist | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 20th Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 5, 1909 – January 7, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Napoleon B. Broward |
| Succeeded by | Park Trammell |
| Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1905 | |
| Preceded by | Cromwell Gibbons |
| Succeeded by | Eugene S. Matthews |
| Member of theFlorida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1903–1905 | |
| Preceded by | R. E. Brown |
| Succeeded by | William H. Hooker |
| Constituency | DeSoto County |
| In office 1893–1895 | |
| Preceded by | T. O. Parker |
| Succeeded by | O. T. Stanford |
| Constituency | DeSoto County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1858-01-15)January 15, 1858 |
| Died | May 15, 1926(1926-05-15) (aged 68) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | Florida State Militia |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
Albert Waller Gilchrist (January 15, 1858 – May 15, 1926) was an American politician who served as the 20thgovernor of Florida. Gilchrist was born inSouth Carolina before moving toPunta Gorda, Florida. ADemocrat, he was elected to theFlorida House of Representatives in 1893 and served as speaker in 1905. Gilchrist is the namesake forGilchrist County, Florida.
Born inGreenwood, South Carolina,[1] Gilchrist first attendedCarolina Military Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was a member ofSigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity before attending theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point. He would have graduated in 1882, but he did not because he was deficient inexperimental philosophy after three years.[2]
Gilchrist became a civil engineer and real estate dealer before settling in Punta Gorda,Florida, to become an orange grower. He served in the Florida state militia until 1898, reaching the rank of brigadier general. Gilchrist went on to join the Company C, of the 3rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry, and served in the U.S. Army during theSpanish–American War in Cuba.[1] He reached the rank of captain in the regular army, before being discharged in 1899.[2]
In 1893, Gilchrist was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He served in it until 1897. He representedDeSoto County, Florida. He returned in 1903, and in 1905 he becameSpeaker of the Florida House and left the legislature.[3][1]
Gilchrist waselected governor on November 3, 1908, taking the oath of office on January 5, 1909.[1] As governor, Gilchrist prioritized public health.[2] For instance, he promoted legislation for a pure food law, improved health conditions for state prisoners, a tuberculosis sanitarium, and a "hospital for impoverished crippled children."[1]
Also during his tenure as governor, theMontverde Industrial School was established, new counties were formed, and, following eight years of work, mainland Florida was finally connected to theFlorida Keys via an overseas railroad.[1] He left office on January 7, 1913.[2] He ran for U.S. Senate in 1916 and served as a delegate to the1924 Democratic National Convention.[1]
Gilchrist died on May 15, 1926, inNew York, New York. Upon his death, the bachelor governor left a large portion of his estate to local orphans. He is buried at Indian Springs Cemetery on Indian Springs Road in Punta Gorda, Florida.[4][1]
After hearing that the former Governor was dying in a New York hospital, theFlorida Legislature quickly introduced and passed a bill namingGilchrist County after him. TheGilchrist Bridge, which carriesU.S. Route 41 south over thePeace River from Port Charlotte to Punta Gorda, is named after Gilchrist.[5]
In 2020, Teddy Ehmann, president of the Charlotte County Historical Society, urged the Punta Gorda City Council to rename Gilchrist Park, of which Gilchrist was the namesake for. In his letter to the council, Ehmann said Gilchrist was a "Southern racist" and asked the council to recognize the indigenousCalusa tribe.[6]
Theresa Murtha, director of the Punta Gorda History Center, said the proposal was "outrageous". She said that Gilchrist was the only Governor of Florida from Punta Gorda, and had a role in the foundation of the city.[6] Former cataloger Lynn Harrell said Gilchrist hired a crew of seven to eight black railroad employees and that "he wouldn't have had a Black crew" if he was a racist.[6]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Florida 1908 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Florida January 5, 1909 – January 7, 1913 | Succeeded by |
| Military(1821) |  | |
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| Territorial(1822–1845) | ||
| State(since 1845) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
