Albert W. Gilchrist

Who was Albert W. Gilchrist?

Albert Waller Gilchrist was the 20th Governor of Florida.

Born in Greenwood, South Carolina, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and would have graduated in 1882 but he did not because he was deficient in experimental philosophy after three years. He went on to be a civil engineer, and real estate dealer before settling in Punta Gorda, Florida to become an orange grower. In 1893 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving until 1905. He also served in the Florida state militia until 1898, reaching the rank of brigadier general, when he left to serve in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He reached the rank of captain in the regular army, before being discharged in 1899. He was elected governor in 1908, taking the oath of office on January 5, 1909. His main focus as governor was public health. He left office on January 7, 1913. He died on May 15, 1926 in New York, New York.

Gilchrist County, Florida is named for Gilchrist as is the Gilchrist Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 41 bridge over the Peace River from Punta Gorda to Port Charlotte, Florida.