Ulysses S. Webb
Encyclopedia
Ulysses Sigel Webb Born in West Virginia, an American
lawyer
and politician
affiliated with the Republican Party. He served as the 19th Attorney General of California for the lengthy span of 37 years. Webb's parents were Cyrus Webb, a civil war captain, and Eliza Cather-Webb. He was educated in Kansas
, and later moved to Quincy, California
. There, he gained admittance to the State Bar of California
and was elected Plumas County
District Attorney, in which position he served for 12 years (1890–1902).
He was appointed Attorney General of California by Governor
Henry Gage
in 1902. Webb served as attorney general for 37 years, from 1902 to 1939 (9 terms), and is one of the longest-serving statewide officials in American history. He began a lengthy series of lawsuits to prove the state held title, in trust for the people of California, to tide and submerged lands, for public access and use for navigation, shipping and commerce. His administration served to clarify new legislation involving elections, motor vehicles, and criminal trial procedures. (The Criminal Law Division has since exploded its workload - Webb reported in his 1914-16 Biennial Report a criminal case load of 307 appeals in two years, whereas today more than 6000 appeals are received annually). Webb died in San Francisco on July 31, 1947.
He also vigorously prosecuted land transfers made to avoid enforcement of the Alien Land Law Act of 1913
that disenfranchised land owners in California who were ineligible for citizenship.
In the 1930s, Webb's office pressured Fish and Game authorities to go after aliens with commercial fisherman's licenses and prevent offloading fish at San Diego port. On September 18, 1934, Judge C. N. Andrews ruled that residence requirements were a violation of the equal protection of the law clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Webb appealed to the Court of Appeals and state Supreme court, who ruled the section did violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer apologized in 2003 for Webb's zealous sterilization program under the state's eugenics policy.
Webb married Grace Goodwin, the daughter of Judge J. D. and Martha Goodwin, of Quincy. The Webbs had three children, Hester, Sigel Goodwin and Grace. Webb belonged to the Masonic
and Knights of Pythias
fraternities, and to the Union League Club. He died in San Francisco.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
affiliated with the Republican Party. He served as the 19th Attorney General of California for the lengthy span of 37 years. Webb's parents were Cyrus Webb, a civil war captain, and Eliza Cather-Webb. He was educated in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and later moved to Quincy, California
Quincy, California
Quincy is a census-designated place and the county seat of Plumas County, California. The population was 1,728 at the 2010 census, down from 1,879 at the 2000 census. Quincy is named after the city of Quincy, Illinois...
. There, he gained admittance to the State Bar of California
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
and was elected Plumas County
Plumas County, California
Plumas County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The county gets its name from the Spanish words for the Feather River , which flows through the county. As of the 2010 census, the population 20,007, down from 20,824 at the 2000 census...
District Attorney, in which position he served for 12 years (1890–1902).
He was appointed Attorney General of California by Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Henry Gage
Henry Gage
Henry Tifft Gage was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat. A Republican, Gage was elected to a single term as the 20th Governor of California from 1899 to 1903. Gage was also the U.S. Minister to Portugal for several months in 1910.-Biography:Gage was born on Christmas Day, 1852 in Geneva,...
in 1902. Webb served as attorney general for 37 years, from 1902 to 1939 (9 terms), and is one of the longest-serving statewide officials in American history. He began a lengthy series of lawsuits to prove the state held title, in trust for the people of California, to tide and submerged lands, for public access and use for navigation, shipping and commerce. His administration served to clarify new legislation involving elections, motor vehicles, and criminal trial procedures. (The Criminal Law Division has since exploded its workload - Webb reported in his 1914-16 Biennial Report a criminal case load of 307 appeals in two years, whereas today more than 6000 appeals are received annually). Webb died in San Francisco on July 31, 1947.
He also vigorously prosecuted land transfers made to avoid enforcement of the Alien Land Law Act of 1913
California Alien Land Law of 1913
The California Alien Land Law of 1913 prohibited "aliens ineligible for citizenship" from owning land or property, but permitted three-year leases. It affected the Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Korean immigrant farmers in California. It passed thirty-five to two in the Senate and seventy-two to...
that disenfranchised land owners in California who were ineligible for citizenship.
In the 1930s, Webb's office pressured Fish and Game authorities to go after aliens with commercial fisherman's licenses and prevent offloading fish at San Diego port. On September 18, 1934, Judge C. N. Andrews ruled that residence requirements were a violation of the equal protection of the law clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Webb appealed to the Court of Appeals and state Supreme court, who ruled the section did violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer apologized in 2003 for Webb's zealous sterilization program under the state's eugenics policy.
Webb married Grace Goodwin, the daughter of Judge J. D. and Martha Goodwin, of Quincy. The Webbs had three children, Hester, Sigel Goodwin and Grace. Webb belonged to the Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
fraternities, and to the Union League Club. He died in San Francisco.
External links
- Ulysses S. Webb, 19th Attorney General - 1850 to Present - California Dept. of Justice - Office of the Attorney General at caag.state.ca.us
- JoinCalifornia - U. S. Webb at www.joincalifornia.com