James R. Whiting

James Raynor Whiting (April 30, 1803 – March 16, 1872) was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Life

He was New York County District Attorney from 1838 to 1844. In 1842 as District Attorney, he prosecuted John C. Colt for the murder of Samuel Adams.[1][2]

In November 1855, he was elected on the Democratic ticket a justice of the New York Supreme Court, and took office on January 1, 1856, but resigned the following year. In November 1857, Josiah Sutherland was elected to fill the vacancy.[3]

In November 1856, Whiting ran on a Reform ticket for Mayor of New York City, but he and four other candidates were defeated by Fernando Wood.[4]

Whiting also owned and developed real estate. For example, he once owned the Broadway Theatre, demolished it, and replaced it with a modern textile showroom.[5]

He was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx).[6]

References

  1. ^ Schecter, Harold (2010). Killer Colt: Murder, Disgrace, and the Making of an American Legend. Random House. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-345-47681-4.
  2. ^ "Obituary. James R. Whiting". New York Herald. March 19, 1872. p. 10, column 2.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Hough, Franklin B. (1858). The New-York Civil List. Albany, N. Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. pp. 350, 377. (gives wrong first name, "John", on page 350])
  4. ^ "City Election" (PDF). The New York Times. November 12, 1855. "The Elections To-morrow" (PDF). The New York Times. November 3, 1856.
  5. ^ "Will Jarvie Buy Tiny Corner Plot?" (PDF). The New York Times. November 24, 1912. Mr. Whiting, in his day, was a large owner of realty in that locality. He bought the old Broadway Theatre, which stood on the former Tefft-Weller Building site, 326 to 330 Broadway, and erected the structure soon after 1859, when the theatre was torn down.
  6. ^ "Funeral Obsequies of Ex-Judge Whiting" (PDF). The New York Times. March 21, 1872. (has typo in middle name, "Traynor")
Legal offices
Preceded by New York County District Attorney
1838–1844 		Succeeded by