Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-07
A. T. BRITTON DEAD
CONTINUED from First Page.l

His Busy Career.
Alexander Thompson Britton was born in
New York city December 20, 1885,. His
father and uncles were among the last cap
| tains of the old liners plying between
London, Liverpool and New York He is a
charter member of the Sons of the Amer
lean Revolution of the District of Columbia
being a great-grandson of Major Isaac
Coren. aid-de-camp 10 Gen. Braddock and
afterward major of artillery in the con-
finentai army under Gen Knox. His grand
father, Capt. John Towers. first utilized the
water power of the SchuylkilI river at a
mill at Manayunk. Pa.
A I. Britton graduated at Brown Uni
yersity in 1857, and was admitted to the
par through the supreme court of Rhode
Island in March, 1853. He practiced his
profession In that state until 1860 and then
at Madison, Fla. until the war of the re-
Dellion compelled his return north. In
March, 1861. he was appointed clerk in
the general land office and entered the serv-
Ice OF the United States on April 15 1861
as member of the National Rifles, to pro-
tect the capital during the early days of
the war. Since that time with an interval
in 1854, when practicing law in California
Washington had been his home In 1884 he
organized the firm of Britton & Gray and
has since then by his ability made his name
a leading one among the lawyers of the
city. In 1877 he was appointed by President
Hayes commissioner to codify the public
land laws, the result of his labors being q
codifcation in three volumes which have
several times been published by authority
of Congress.
He served Washington in many high
and responsible positions. He was the last
president of the board of police commission
ers in the early seventies. He was 4 direc-
tor In the Emergency Hospital. Columbia
FIRE insurance Company and Founding
Asylum. and was one of the promoters and
directors in the Georgetown and Tenlsy-
town Railroad Company, the lexington and
soldiers Home Railroad Company and tie
Columbia National Bank. He was a trus-
tee in the Tunlaw syndicate. which has
added so much to the beauty Of GEORGETOWN
Heights. He built the Pacific building in
1880, and was president of the Atlantic
building He was chairman of the in
augural committee having charge of Pres-
dent Harrisons inaugural ton, and was one
OF the worlds fair commissioners from the
District. In 1890 he organized and became
the first president of the American Secur-
ity and Trust Company, remaining in that
position for three years, when he resigned
in order to devote the time more fully to
the practice of his profession. He con
tnued. however. as vice president of the
company, and during the absence Of the
president, Mr.. Bell, he took his place
Mr. Britton was twice married. By his
first wife he had four children. three of
whom are still living. BY his second wife
he had five children. all of whom are living
Sorrow Mt District Building.
The announcement of the death of Mr..
officials and employees of the District gov
ernmcnt, he having been we'll known to
most of them. Every one spoke of him in
the most favorable terms. and at the Dis
trict building. elsewhere in the city, his
death is regarded as great loss to the
District.
Commissioner Wight did not even know
that Mr.. Brftton had been ill II have
known Mr.. Britton," said Mr. Wight "for
many years. and intimately 50 since I
served as secretary of the board of trade
He was in every sense a pubiic-spirited
man, and never hesitated to support, both
with his means and labor, any movement
tending 10 the Improvement and to the adj
vancement Of the best interests Of the city
and District. l am sure no man was more
highly regarded and respected by the peo-
pie of the District. and his death WILL
therefore, be a severe loss to the District.
He was at one time a member and chair
of the board of police commissioners,
and filed both positions with conspicuous
ability. He was connected with many of
the local charitable institutions, being one
of the directors of the Emergency Hos
pitaL / am both panied and shocked by
the news of his DEATH"
Commissioner Ross is out of the city, but
his secretary Mr.. Nye, stated that Mr..
Ross knew Mr.. Britton Intimately great
" respecting and admiring him, and his
death would therefore, be learned by Mr.
Ross with great regret and sadness.
Mr.. A. A. Thomas. formerly president of
the United States Electric Lighting Com
nany said he regarded Mr.. Britton as
about the brainiest man in the District
..He was a man of the highest integrity,
said Mr. Thomas, lone who unselnsnly
worked for the best interests of the ma
tional capital and one whose death will
long be rnourned and regretted.
DIR; William Tindall. secretary to tne
board of District Commissioners, said OF
MIR Britton:
Il was very much attached to Col: Brit.
ion | first knew of him as member OF
the police board In that capacity his tai
ents as an organizer and manager or ar
fairs were pre-eminently conspicuous. his
integrity was beyond question. On the rev
occasions when he addressed the board
Of Commissioners ! was struck by MS ex-
traordinary power of presenting the salient
points of his subject in the fewest possible
words and with a clearness which left no
opportunity for misunderstanding 1 am
sure that the District never had more
capable or worthy citizen nor one who
more zealously or effectively sought to ad-
vance its welfare"
Major Sylvester, chief of the police de-
partment, said:
In the death of Col. Britton the District
sustains a great loss. He was an active
and powerful advocate in support of all
interests tending to the welfare of the
community. Col. Britton was at one time
at the head of the police board. and since
that time has been the firm supporter and
friend of good police administration. Many
members of the departm mt have enjoyed
his personal acquaintance for years, and
ne never neSItated 10 say q KIM WOrQ OF
to go to the front in behalf of those he
deemed worthy of assistance We all re-
greet 10 learn of Col. Britton's DEATH"
I've known Col. Britton for more than
thirty years. said Mr. z. G. Davis, col
lector of taxes. Il knew him both in a
business way and socially, and L am frank
to say that the District could not have
sustained a greater loss than 1t has in his
death. l am exceedingly sorry to hear
the sad news
Chief Paris of the fire department said
he had known Col. Britton Intimately for
many years and. he said, he never knew
a better man. He was the noblest hearted
man that ever lived.
Grief at City Hall.
The anuounceme mt Of the death of Mr..
B-itton was received about the city hall
with expressions of sorrow that were
unquestionably genuine and sincere. Every
one to whom the news was impaired was
deeply shocked, and in a manner that was
apparent.
II am quite shocked" stated Chief JUS
tice Bingham of the Supreme Court OF the
District of Columbia. II had not hoard
that Mr. Britton was even sick He was
very excellent lawyer and a very strong
man in business affairs; altogether he was