James Jefferson Britt

James Jefferson Britt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 10th district
In office March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917
Preceded by	James M. Gudger, Jr.
Succeeded by	Zebulon Weaver
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office 1909–1911
Personal details
Born	(1861-03-04)March 4, 1861 Unicoi County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	December 26, 1939(1939-12-26) (aged 78) Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	Lawyer, politician

James Jefferson Britt (March 4, 1861 – December 26, 1939) was an American educator and politician who served one term as a United States representative in Congress from North Carolina from 1915 to 1917.

Biography

James Jefferson Britt was born near Johnson City, Tennessee, in present-day Unicoi County on March 4, 1861. He attended the common schools and studied under private tutors.

Early career

He was principal of Burnsville (N.C.) Academy from 1886 to 1893. He was then superintendent of the public schools of Mitchell County 1894-1896 and headmaster of Bowman Academy, Bakersville, N.C., 1895–1896.

Britt was deputy collector of internal revenue at Asheville, N.C., 1896–1899. He studied law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was admitted to the bar in 1900 and commenced practice in Asheville.

Political career

He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1906 to the Sixtieth Congress but was a special assistant United States attorney in 1906 and 1907. Britt became a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1909 to 1911, he was part of the special counsel to the Post Office Department from July 1, 1909, to December 1, 1910. He was again special assistant to the Attorney General from July 13, 1910, to December 1, 1910.

Britt was appointed Third Assistant Postmaster General by President Taft on December 1, 1910, and served until March 17, 1913.

Congress

He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917). He successfully contested the election of Zebulon Weaver to the Sixty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1917 – March 4, 1919), but was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election to the Sixty-sixth Congress in 1918.

Later career

He resumed the practice of law in Asheville, N.C. and served as chief counsel for the Bureau of Prohibition, Treasury Department, 1922–1932. Britt was an unsuccessful candidate for the position of chief justice for the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1926. He once again resumed the practice of law in 1933.

Death

James J. Britt died on December 26, 1939, in Asheville, N.C. and was interred in Riverside Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "James Jefferson Britt (id: B000846)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• Works by or about James Jefferson Britt at the Internet Archive