Martin D. Hamilton
Acting Mayor of San Diego
In office
November 13, 1888 – May 6, 1889
Preceded byWilliam Jefferson Hunsaker
Succeeded byDouglas Gunn
Personal details
Born
Martinez Dama

1855
USA
Died19 August 1922
San Diego
Political partyRepublican

Martin Davis Hamilton (1855-1922) was an American Republican politician from San Diego, California. He served as acting Mayor of San Diego following the resignation of William Jefferson Hunsaker.

Military

Hamilton fought for the Union in the American Civil War, where he lost an arm. After the war, he was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic's Heintzelman Post No. 33.[1]

Elected office

Hamilton was active in San Diego local politics and was elected to several positions over time. Hamilton was a staunch republican and ran on the local party's "Citizen's Non-Partisan" ticket.[2] Hamilton's first elected to office was City Assessor, where he served from 1880 until 1885.[3]

On April 18, 1887, Hamilton was elected to the San Diego Board of Trustees. At the first meeting, the board voted to install Hamilton as president of the board.[4] At this time the president of the board was referred to as the Mayor of San Diego out of courtesy, though there was no official position of mayor at this time.[5] The office of the mayor was reinstated in 1888, and Hamilton continued in his role as president of the board of trustees. Following the resignation of Mayor William Jefferson Hunsaker on November 13, 1888, Hamilton was elevated to acting Mayor of San Diego until the next election could be held.[6]

References

  1. ^ Sullivan, William (Winter 1985). Scharf, Thomas L. (ed.). "100 Years Ago in San Diego". The Journal of San Diego History. 31 (1). Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  2. ^ "Citizen's Ticket". The San Diego Union. April 8, 1887. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  3. ^ Smythe, William (1907). "Appendix". History of San Diego, 1542-1908: The modern city. History Co. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  4. ^ "The New Board Takes Office". The San Diego Union. April 19, 1887. p. 5. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  5. ^ Smythe, William (1907). "Part Five: Chapter II Political Affairs and Municipal Campaigns". History of San Diego, 1542-1908: The modern city. History Co. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  6. ^ "The Mayor's Resignation". The San Diego Union. November 14, 1888. p. 5. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
Political offices Preceded byWilliam Jefferson Hunsaker Mayor of San Diego, California (acting) 1888–1889 Succeeded byDouglas Gunn


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