Edmund C. Weeks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmund C. Weeks
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| 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 24, 1870 – December 27, 1870 |
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| Governor | Harrison Reed |
| Preceded by | William Henry Gleason |
| Succeeded by | Samuel T. Day |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 10, 1829 Tisbury, Massachusetts |
| Died | April 12, 1907 (aged 78) Tallahassee, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Mary Jones Elizabeth Hunt Crafts |
Edmund Cottle Weeks (born March 10, 1829 – died April 12, 1907) was an American politician. He served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Florida for a short time.
Early Life and Adventures
Edmund Weeks was born in Tisbury, Massachusetts, a town on Martha's Vineyard. His parents were Captain Hiram Weeks and Margaret D. Cottle. When he was young, Edmund traveled with his father on a long sea voyage to South America.
After his travels, he studied medicine for three years at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. But Edmund loved the sea too much to stay on land. He decided to become a sailor and later even became a partner in a boat company.
During the American Civil War, Edmund joined the Union Navy. He fought in the important Battle of New Orleans. Later, he became a major in the Union Army and led the 2nd Florida Cavalry. After the war ended, he moved to Tallahassee, Florida.
A Challenging Role in Florida Politics
On January 24, 1870, Governor Harrison Reed chose Edmund Weeks to be the Lieutenant Governor of Florida. The Lieutenant Governor is like a vice-president for a state, ready to take over if the governor can't do their job. Weeks took his oath of office on the same day.
However, his appointment was quite controversial. Some people, like the state's money manager (Comptroller) Robert H. Gamble, believed the Governor couldn't just appoint someone to this elected position. Because of this, Weeks didn't get his salary until the Florida Supreme Court looked into the matter.
Things were also difficult in the Florida Senate, where the Lieutenant Governor usually presides. On his very first day, many senators walked out of the meeting. The next day, another senator even tried to sit in his chair! Weeks eventually left the session early.
Governor Reed had intended Weeks's term to be temporary. So, an election was held on November 8, 1870. Samuel T. Day was elected as the new Lieutenant Governor. Day officially took office on January 3, 1871. Weeks felt that his term should have lasted longer, so he asked the Supreme Court to decide. But the court ruled that the Governor had the power to call the election, and Weeks's appointment had ended on December 27, 1870, when the election results were confirmed.
Later Public Service
After his time as Lieutenant Governor, Edmund Weeks continued to serve the public. He represented Leon County in the Florida House of Representatives, which is part of the Florida Legislature. He also worked as the sheriff for Leon County.
As a member of the Republican Party, he tried to win a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1878 but was not successful. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him as a U.S. Marshal for the northern part of Florida. A U.S. Marshal is a federal law enforcement officer.
Edmund Weeks was married twice. He first married Mary Jones in London. Later, he married Elizabeth Hunt Crafts in Tallahassee on June 6, 1890. He passed away in Tallahassee in 1907 when he was 78 years old.
