James McLachlan

Who was James McLachlan?

James McLachlan was a U.S. Representative from California.

Born in Argyllshire, Scotland, McLachlan immigrated to the United States in 1855 with his parents, who settled in Tompkins County, New York. Reared on a farm and attended the public schools. He taught in the public schools.

McLachlan was elected school commissioner of Tompkins County, New York, in 1877. He was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, in 1878. He studied law. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of New York in 1880. Practiced in Ithaca, New York from 1881 to 1888. He moved to Pasadena, California, in 1888, and there continued the practice of law. He served as district attorney of Los Angeles County 1890–1892.

In 1894 McLachlan was elected as a Republican to the United States House, defeating Democrat George S. Patton, Sr. He served in the Fifty-fourth Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress.

McLachlan was elected to the Fifty-seventh and to the four succeeding Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress.