James W. English facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Warren English
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| Mayor of Atlanta | |
| In office January 1881 - January 1883 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | October 28, 1837 Orleans Parish, Louisiana |
| Died | February 15, 1925 (aged 87) Atlanta, Georgia |
| Resting place | Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Profession | Banker, Politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States Confederate States |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Spalding Grays, Company D, 2nd Battalion, Georgia Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
James Warren English (October 28, 1837 – February 15, 1925) was an important American leader. He was a bank president and a staff officer during the American Civil War. He also served as the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, from 1881 to 1883, after the war ended.
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Life of James English
English was born in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. He faced challenges early in life, losing his father when he was 12 and his mother two years later. At 15, he started working as an apprentice carriage-maker. He worked hard for four years, learning his trade, while also going to night school. Later, he moved to Griffin, Georgia, where he married Emily Alexander and started a family.
Military Service in the Civil War
James English joined the Confederate States Army on April 20, 1861. He served in Virginia and rose to the rank of captain. He was present during important moments at the end of the war. On April 7, 1865, he helped deliver the first written message about a surrender from General Ulysses S. Grant to General Robert E. Lee. The war ended soon after at Appomattox Court House.
Life After the War
After the war, English arrived in Atlanta on May 14, 1865. He soon became a successful banker. On December 1, 1880, he won the election to become mayor of Atlanta, starting his term in January.
He was the president of the American Trust and Banking Company for 30 years. This bank later became known as the Fourth National Bank. He also served for 24 years on the board of directors for the Central of Georgia Railway Company. In 1883, he helped start the Fulton County Street Railroad. This railroad later became famous for its "Nine-Mile Circle" route, which went through what is now the Virginia-Highland area.
From 1871 until he passed away, English lived on Cone Street in the Fairlie-Poplar area of Atlanta. His home was one of the last single-family houses in downtown Atlanta. A street in Atlanta, English Avenue, was named after his son, J.W. English, Junior. James W. English, Sr., also helped organize the Piedmont Exposition in 1887.
English was a very important person in Atlanta during the late 1800s and early 1900s. He strongly supported the idea of a "New South." This idea focused on building up industries and businesses instead of relying only on cotton farming. He quickly found success in both business and politics. He served in many roles, including city council member, school board member, police commissioner, mayor of Atlanta, bank president, and owner of several companies.
James English and Business Practices
James English became very wealthy through his businesses. By 1897, his companies used a system called "convict leasing." This system allowed businesses to rent out the labor of people who were in prison. English's companies used many of these leased workers for tasks like making bricks, cutting lumber, building railroads, and working in turpentine production.
English was especially known for his connection to the Chattahoochee Brick Company. This company made many of the bricks used to build Atlanta's streets and older neighborhoods. The company was known for being very productive and profitable. However, the conditions for the leased workers were very difficult.
In 1908, a special group looked into the conditions at the brickyard. Former guards and workers shared that prisoners had to work in very tough conditions. They reported that the food was often bad, and their living areas had many insects. The work was extremely hard, especially in the heat from the ovens.
English stated that he and his family never treated any worker cruelly. He claimed he told his managers to make sure workers were well-fed, clothed, and cared for. However, some witnesses said that the work at the brickyard was so hard that even free workers could not do it for long.
English also used leased workers at a large sawmill, the Iron Belt Railroad and Mining Company, and the Durham Coal and Coke Company. Some of these operations, like the mine shafts, were dangerous. Workers sometimes had to work in water that was waist-high. They often did not have enough materials to keep themselves safe from cave-ins. If they took time to protect themselves, they might not finish their daily tasks and could face punishment.
