Washington Bartlett

Washington Montgomery Bartlett (February 29, 1824 – September 12, 1887) was an American politician who served as the 16th governor of California from January 1887 until his death in September of that year, as well as the 20th mayor of San Francisco from 1883 to 1887. He was the first Jewish governor of any U.S. state and – to date – the only Jewish governor of California. Bartlett converted to Congregationalism on his deathbed and was buried as a Christian.

Biography


Bartlett was born in Savannah, Georgia on February 29, 1824, the son of Sarah E. Melhado and Cosam Emir Bartlett. His mother was a Sephardic Jew. Unlike the second elected Jewish governor, Moses Alexander of Idaho, Bartlett was not particularly religious and did not participate in Jewish observances while in California.

A lifelong bachelor and a printer by trade, he became a lawyer as well. During his lifetime Bartlett was a San Francisco newspaper publisher, San Francisco County Clerk, California state senator, mayor of San Francisco from 1883-87, and finally governor, elected in 1886.

Bartlett was sworn in as governor and gave his inaugural address on January 8, 1887. He died of Bright's disease barely eight months into his term, on September 12, 1887. His service as governor was the second shortest in California's history as a state; only Milton S. Latham, who served just five days in 1860, had a shorter tenure.

Bartlett's funeral was conducted at Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.