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James W. Hyatt

American politician

James William Hyatt
16th Treasurer of the United States
In office May 24, 1887 – May 10, 1889
President	Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	Conrad N. Jordan
Succeeded by	James N. Huston
24th, 26th, and 28th Warden of the Borough of Norwalk, Connecticut
In office 1877–1878
Preceded by	Samuel Daskam
Succeeded by	Thomas H. Morison
In office 1880–1882
Preceded by	Thomas H. Morison
Succeeded by	William H. Smith
In office 1885–1887
Preceded by	William H. Smith
Succeeded by	George S. Gregory
Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 13th District
In office 1884–1885
Preceded by	Talmadge Baker
Succeeded by	Asa Smith
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk
In office 1875–1877 Serving with Winfield S. Hanford
Preceded by	Edward P. Weed, Thomas Guyer
Succeeded by	Allen Betts, Talmadge Baker
Personal details
Born	(1837-09-19)September 19, 1837 Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	March 12, 1893(1893-03-12) (aged 55) Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Republican Democratic (after 1872)
Spouse	Jane Maria Hoyt[1]
Residence(s)	Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation	businessman
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States Union
Years of service	1861-1865
Unit	5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

James William Hyatt (September 19, 1837 – March 12, 1893) was Treasurer of the United States from 1887 to 1889. He had previously served as Bank Commissioner for the State of Connecticut, and United States Bank Examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island. He served as a Democratic member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1875 and 1876, a member of the Connecticut Senate in 1884, and he was Warden of the Borough of Norwalk from 1877 to 1878, from 1880 to 1882, and from 1885 to 1887.

James W. Hyatt was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of James W. Hyatt, and Laura Gray^[1] on September 19, 1837.^[2] With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Hyatt joined the 5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.^[2] After the war, he moved to New York City to join Lockwood & Co., a leading banking house that was founded by LeGrand Lockwood of Norwalk.^[2]

In 1873, Hyatt attained control of the majority of stock of the Norwalk Horse Railway Company and returned to Norwalk to work as its Secretary and General Manager. He was president of the company at the time of his death.^[2] He also worked as Vice President of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, and, in 1881, became its president.^[2] He represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1875 and 1876 as a Democrat (Hyatt had earlier supported the Republican Party, but became a Democrat in 1872).^[2] In 1876, Governor of Connecticut Charles Roberts Ingersoll appointed Hyatt Bank Commissioner.^[2] He was later reappointed by Govs. Richard D. Hubbard, Charles B. Andrews, Hobart B. Bigelow, and Thomas M. Waller.^[2] In 1884, he was elected to the Connecticut Senate, but resigned so he could remain Bank Commissioner.^[2]

In 1886, President of the United States Grover Cleveland appointed Hyatt United States Bank Examiner for Connecticut and Rhode Island.^[2] In spring 1887, President Cleveland appointed Hyatt Treasurer of the United States, with Hyatt subsequently holding that office from May 24, 1887, to May 10, 1889.^[2]

After suffering for several weeks from gout and Bright's disease, Hyatt died at Norwalk on March 12, 1893.^[2] Surprising observers, who assumed that Hyatt was rich, Hyatt died a poor man and left virtually no estate for his widow.^[3]