James W. Bryan

Who was James W. Bryan?

James Wesley Bryan was a U.S. Representative from Washington.

Born in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Bryan attended the public schools and Lake Charles College at Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was graduated from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, in 1895 and from Yale University in 1897. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and commenced practice at Lake Charles, Louisiana. He moved to Bremerton, Washington, in 1905 and continued the practice of law. City attorney in 1907, 1908, and again in 1911. He served as member of the State senate 1908-1912.

Bryan was elected as a Progressive to the Sixty-third Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress. He owned and published the Navy Yard American from 1915 to 1917. He resumed the practice of law. He served as prosecuting attorney of Kitsap County 1926-1930. He served as president of the Bremerton Port Commission 1933-1936. Practiced law in Bremerton, Washington, until his death there on August 26, 1956. He was interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery.