Ellis E. Patterson

Who was Ellis E. Patterson?

Ellis Ellwood Patterson was a one-term Democratic California congressman. Born in Yuba City, California, he served as representative between 1945 and 1947. Patterson also served in the California State Assembly. He was also the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of California, 1939-43.

Born in Yuba City, California, Patterson attended public schools and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1921. He served as a seaman in the United States Navy in 1917 and 1918 during World War I, and taught school in Colusa County, California from 1922 – 1924.

From 1923 – 1932, Patterson served as the district superintendent of schools for South Monterey County, California. He also studied law at Stanford University and the University of California from 1931 – 1936. He was admitted to the bar in 1937 and commenced law practice in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

Patterson served as a member of the California State Assembly from 1932 – 1938. In 1936, after being defeated in the primaries in his second re-election bid, Patterson waged a write-in campaign and won the election. Originally elected as a Republican, Patterson switched his party affiliation to Democrat after becoming enamored with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.