James E. Tolman (November 8, 1867 – February 21, 1956) was an American lawyer, and politician who served as the mayor of

Gloucester, Massachusetts Gloucester () is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. Census. An important center of the fishing industry and a ...

and as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Early life and education

Tolman was born on November 8, 1867 in

. He attended Gloucester public schools and in 1909 graduated from

Boston University School of Law Boston University School of Law (Boston Law or BU Law) is the law school of Boston University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States and considered an eli ...

Business career

Tolman was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1910. For fifteen years, he worked in the theatre business as part of the partnership of Lothrop and Tolman. Tolman also worked in the grocery and provision business.

Political career

Gloucester, Massachusetts Common Council

From 1899 to 1901 Tolman served on the

Common Council. For two years, in 1899 and in 1901, Tolman was the President of the Common Council.

Mayor of Gloucester

In 1902 Tolman ran as an Independent Republican Gloucester mayoral election. On December 2, 1902 Tolman was elected as the mayor of Gloucester.

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Tolman served as a Republican member of the Massachusetts House representing the Twenty Second Essex District in 1909, and again from 1914 to 1916. From 1917 to 1918 Tolman represented the Twenty First Essex District in the

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

. In the 1909

Tolman served as the Clerk of the Committee on Public Lighting. In the 1914

Tolman served on the Committee on Legal Affairs and on the Committee on Public Lighting. In the 1915

Tolman served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Lighting. In the 1916

Tolman served on the Committee on legal affairs and as the Chairman of the Committee on public lighting.

Massachusetts Senate

From 1910 to 1912, Tolman represented the Third Essex District in the Massachusetts State Senate In the 1910

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

Tolman served as the Chairman of the Committee of Third Reading, and on the Committees on Legal Affairs, Mercantile Affairs and Constitutional Amendments. In the 1911

Tolman served as the Chairman of the Committees on Legal Affairs and of Public Lighting, and on the Committee on Mercantile Affairs.

Death

Tolman died on February 21, 1956 at his home in Gloucester. He was 88 years old.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolman, James E. 1867 births 1956 deaths Boston University School of Law alumni Republican Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Republican Party Massachusetts state senators Massachusetts city council members Massachusetts lawyers Mayors of Gloucester, Massachusetts People from Gloucester, Massachusetts