Lawyer, Businessman, and Political Figure. Born George William Patton, his father was Confederate Colonel George Smith Patton, Sr. who died shortly after the Battle of Opequon (also known as the 3rd Battle of Winchester) in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and he changed his middle name to Smith in honor of his father. After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia he studied law there and became an attorney. In 1877 he relocated to Los Angeles, California and in 1884 he married Ruth Wilson, the daughter of prominent landowner and political figure Benjamin Davis Wilson, and settled at Lake Vineyard where they raised produce and operated a winery. He was a member of the Democratic Party and from 1886 until 1887 he served as Los Angeles County District Attorney. In 1894 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the US House of Representatives. In 1902 he began working as an executive for businessman Henry E. Huntington's real estate development company which was responsible for construction and settlement throughout the San Gabriel Valley and later throughout southern California. He was elected the first Mayor of San Marino, serving from April 1913 until April 1922 and again from October 1922 until August 1924. In 1916 he was the Democratic nominee for US Senator but lost to Republican Hiram Johnson. He died at his home at the age of 70. He was the father of the famous World War II US Army General George S. Patton, III.
Lawyer, Businessman, and Political Figure. Born George William Patton, his father was Confederate Colonel George Smith Patton, Sr. who died shortly after the Battle of Opequon (also known as the 3rd Battle of Winchester) in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and he changed his middle name to Smith in honor of his father. After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia he studied law there and became an attorney. In 1877 he relocated to Los Angeles, California and in 1884 he married Ruth Wilson, the daughter of prominent landowner and political figure Benjamin Davis Wilson, and settled at Lake Vineyard where they raised produce and operated a winery. He was a member of the Democratic Party and from 1886 until 1887 he served as Los Angeles County District Attorney. In 1894 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the US House of Representatives. In 1902 he began working as an executive for businessman Henry E. Huntington's real estate development company which was responsible for construction and settlement throughout the San Gabriel Valley and later throughout southern California. He was elected the first Mayor of San Marino, serving from April 1913 until April 1922 and again from October 1922 until August 1924. In 1916 he was the Democratic nominee for US Senator but lost to Republican Hiram Johnson. He died at his home at the age of 70. He was the father of the famous World War II US Army General George S. Patton, III.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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