James W. Pope

James W. Pope
Member of the Boston Common Council for Ward 9
In office
1881
Preceded byHenry W. Swift
Succeeded byGodfrey Morse
Personal details
DiedFebruary 11 or 12, 1937 (aged 80)[1]
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Political partyRepublican[1]
Alma materBoston University School of Law[1]

James W. Pope (1856–1937) was an American lawyer who was the second African American to serve on the Boston Common Council.[2]

Career

Pope was elected to represent Ward 9 on the Common Council in 1880 and was seated on January 6, 1881.[3] He was defeated for reelection in 1881. Pope later blamed his vote to allow the Irish National Land League to use Faneuil Hall for his loss.[4] After leaving the council, Pope moved to the Southern United States. While there, his right leg was amputated after a revolver went off in his pocket.[5] By 1896, Pope was once again living in Boston.[6] From 1929 to 1934, Pope was a master in chancery.[7][8] Pope was found dead in his Pemberton Square law office on February 15, 1937. It was believed that he had died three or four days prior.[1]

Family

Pope's grandson, Lincoln Pope Jr., served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1957 to 1964.[9] His granddaughter, Doris Pope, was the wife of Herbert L. Jackson.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bootblack Finds Lawyer, 80. Dead". Afro-American. February 20, 1937.
  2. ^ Hayden, Robert C. (1991). African-Americans in Boston More Than 350 Years. Boston: Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston. p. 93. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. ^ "The Common Council". The Boston Globe. January 7, 1881.
  4. ^ "Dowd President of City Council". The Boston Globe. January 3, 1934.
  5. ^ "For the Benefit of James W. Pope". The Boston Globe. May 20, 1883.
  6. ^ "Orators Urge Vigilance Need". The Boston Globe. July 5, 1936.
  7. ^ "Allen Picks Cook for Bristol Court". The Boston Globe. October 3, 1929.
  8. ^ "Hultman Resigns, Leonard In". The Boston Globe. December 28, 1934.
  9. ^ Hayden, Bob (June 14, 1979). "Boston's Black History". Bay State Banner.
  10. ^ Cash, William (December 25, 1977). "At 70, he thinks of running again". The Boston Globe.