Preceded by Napoleon B. Broward Party Democratic Party Political party Democratic Succeeded by Park Trammell | Spouse(s) None Resigned January 7, 1913 Name Albert Gilchrist | |
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Born January 15, 1858
Greenwood, South Carolina ( 1858-01-15 ) Role Former Governor of Florida Died May 15, 1926, New York City, New York, United States Education United States Military Academy Previous office Governor of Florida (1909–1913) | ||
Albert Waller Gilchrist (January 15, 1858 – May 15, 1926) was an American politician who served as the 20th Governor of Florida.
Born in Greenwood, South Carolina, first attended Carolina Military Institute in Charlotte where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and would have graduated in 1882 but he did not because he was deficient in experimental philosophy after three years. He went on to be a civil engineer, and real estate dealer before settling in Punta Gorda, Florida to become an orange grower. In 1893 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving until 1905. He also served in the Florida state militia until 1898, reaching the rank of brigadier general, when he left to serve in the U.S. Army during the Spanish–American War. He reached the rank of captain in the regular army, before being discharged in 1899. He was elected governor in 1908, taking the oath of office on January 5, 1909. His main focus as governor was public health. He left office on January 7, 1913. He died on May 15, 1926 in New York, New York. The Florida Legislature hearing that the former Governor was dying in a New York hospital quickly introduced and passed a bill naming Gilchrist County after him. Upon his death, the bachelor governor left a large portion of his estate to local orphans.
The Gilchrist Bridge, is also named after the governor which carries U.S. Route 41 bridge over the Peace River from Punta Gorda to Port Charlotte, Florida. A dormitory at Florida State University is also named after the former governor.