George S. Patton (attorney)

George S. Patton
c. 1916
Mayor of San Marino, California
In office
October 11, 1922 – August 13, 1924
Preceded byWilliam L. Valentine
Succeeded byRichard H. Lacy
In office
April 15, 1913 – April 16, 1922
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byWilliam L. Valentine
Los Angeles County District Attorney
In office
January 3, 1887 – April 4, 1887
Preceded byGeorge M. Holton
Succeeded byJ. R. Dupuy
Personal details
Born
George William Patton

(1856-09-30)September 30, 1856
Charleston, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1927(1927-06-10) (aged 70)
San Marino, California, U.S.
Resting placeSan Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Ruth Wilson
(m. 1884)
RelationsBenjamin Davis Wilson (father-in-law)
Children2, including George S. Patton Jr. (1885–1945)
Parents
Alma materVirginia Military Institute
OccupationAttorney
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceCalifornia National Guard
Years of servicec. 1880s
RankMajor
Unit1st Brigade

George Smith Patton (September 30, 1856 – June 10, 1927) was an American attorney, businessman and politician who served as Los Angeles County District Attorney and the first mayor of San Marino, California.

Patton was the son of Susan Thornton Glassell and George S. Patton Sr., a Confederate colonel during the American Civil War. His mother moved to California after his father was killed during the war, and Patton was educated in Los Angeles. He returned to Virginia to attend Virginia Military Institute, from which he graduated in 1877. After studying law at his uncle's firm, he was admitted to the bar and practiced in Los Angeles. He served in local offices including school board member. He was elected County District Attorney in 1887.

Patton married the daughter of Benjamin Davis Wilson, one of California's wealthiest men, and moved with his family to a San Gabriel estate called Lake Vineyard. He was active in politics as a Democrat and made unsuccessful races for Congress in 1894 and 1896. When San Marino was incorporated as a city separate from San Gabriel, he was elected San Marino's first mayor, a post he held from 1913 to 1922 and 1922 to 1924. In 1916 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator.

A longtime friend of Henry E. Huntington, in 1902 Patton became an executive in Huntington's real estate development company, and played a major role in developing the San Gabriel Valley and other areas of southern California. He died in San Marino in 1927, and was buried at San Gabriel Cemetery in San Gabriel. Patton was the father of two children, including General George S. Patton.