Samuel H. Piles
Encyclopedia
Samuel Henry Piles was a United States Senator from Washington. Born near Smithland, Kentucky
, he attended private schools there, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
and commenced practice in Snohomish, Territory of Washington
in 1883. He moved to Spokane
in 1886 and later in the same year to Seattle, where he engaged in the practice of law. He was assistant prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district of the Territory of Washington from 1887 to 1889 and was city attorney
of Seattle, 1888–1889; he was also general counsel
of the Pacific Coast Co. from 1895 to 1905.
In 1904, Piles was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1905 to March 4, 1911. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1910. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Coast and Insular Survey (Fifty-ninth through Sixty-first Congresses). He resumed the practice of law in Seattle, and was appointed by President Warren Harding as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
to Colombia
, an office he held from 1922 to 1928. He retired from active pursuits and moved to Los Angeles, California
, where he died in 1940; interment was in Lakeview Cemetery
, Seattle.
Smithland, Kentucky
Smithland is a city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. The population was 401 at the 2000 census...
, he attended private schools there, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and commenced practice in Snohomish, Territory of Washington
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
in 1883. He moved to Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
in 1886 and later in the same year to Seattle, where he engaged in the practice of law. He was assistant prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district of the Territory of Washington from 1887 to 1889 and was city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
of Seattle, 1888–1889; he was also general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of the Pacific Coast Co. from 1895 to 1905.
In 1904, Piles was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1905 to March 4, 1911. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1910. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Coast and Insular Survey (Fifty-ninth through Sixty-first Congresses). He resumed the practice of law in Seattle, and was appointed by President Warren Harding as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, an office he held from 1922 to 1928. He retired from active pursuits and moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where he died in 1940; interment was in Lakeview Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery (Seattle)
Lake View Cemetery is a cemetery located on Seattle, Washington, Capitol Hill just north of Volunteer Park. It is named for its view of Lake Washington to the east. It was founded in 1873 as the Seattle Masonic Cemetery.-Notable interments:...
, Seattle.