James R. Sheffield

     James Rockwell Sheffield was born Aug 13, 1864 in Dubuque, Iowa to Frederick W.H. and Sarah Kellogg Sheffield. They later moved to Utica, NY. He attended Utica Free Academy and Williston Seminary. In 1867, he graduated from Yale. James R. Sheffield attended Harvard Law School for a year before continuing his studies in Washington D.C. while serving as Iowa Senator William B. Allison's private secretary. 

    In 1893, James R. Sheffield was admitted to the Bar. He practiced law in New York City. Also in 1893, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He served one term. From 1895-1898 he was a member of the NYC Board of Fire Commissioners (was President 1897-1898). 

    Theodore Roosevelt twice offered James R. Sheffield appointments to the federal bench but he declined. 

    In 1924, thanks to the efforts of Charles Evens Hughes, President Calvin Coolidge appointed James R. Sheffield as Ambassador to Mexico. Sadly, he earned notoriety for his contempt of some individuals in the Mexican Government. In 1925, he acted on his own to rebuke the Mexican government for its support of a revolutionary movement in Nicaragua, which undermined the Coolidge's administration's policy of non-confrontation with Mexico. He served until 1927 when he went back to practicing law. 

    In 1930, James R. Sheffield was appointed a special Ambassador to Venezuela.  

    In 1895, James R. Sheffield married Edith Tod. They had one son Frederick (who was a member of the US Rowing team that won a gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics).

    James R. Sheffield passed away on Sept 2, 1938 and is buried in the family lot on Plot 40 Lot 1625 of Forest Hill Cemetery.

 


 

Location: 2201 Oneida St, Utica, NY 13501, USA

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