John C. Elliott (January 30, 1919 – April 13, 2001) was an American politician appointed as the governor of American Samoa.[1] Elliott was born on January 30, 1919, in Los Angeles, California.[2] He died on April 13, 2001, in San Marino, California. He is buried at the San Gabriel Cemetery in San Gabriel, California.[2] He took office on July 16, 1952, and left on November 23, 1952,[1] leaving for personal reasons,[3] and is the youngest man to ever hold the office at 33 years of age.[2] Prior to his appointment, Elliott had served as the assistant to Governor Phelps Phelps and Secretary of American Samoa.[3]

John C. Elliott
Governor of American Samoa
In office
July 16, 1952 – November 23, 1952
Preceded byPhelps Phelps
Succeeded byJames Arthur Ewing
Secretary of American Samoa
In office
February 23, 1951 – June 20, 1952
GovernorPhelps Phelps
Personal details
BornJanuary 30, 1919
Los Angeles, California
DiedAugust 13, 2001(2001-08-13) (aged 82)
San Marino, California
Resting placeSan Gabriel Cemetery, San Gabriel, California
Political partyDemocratic

Elliott was the second DOI-appointed Governor of American Samoa, having previously served as the Secretary of Samoan Affairs under Governor Phelps Phelps. He was popular among local leaders, with many, including Tuiasosopo and A. P. Lutali, sending petitions to Washington in his support. Elliott collaborated closely with Tuiasosopo to reorganize the three-year-old American Samoa Legislature. He replaced the upper house, Atoa o Ali'i, with the American Samoa Senate and reduced the membership of the American Samoa House of Representatives from 54 to 21. His sudden departure after just three months as Governor was attributed to personal reasons that were never revealed.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "John C. Elliot". Governors. Government of American Samoa. 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Sorensen, Stan; Joseph Theroux (2007). "The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1606-2007" (PDF). Government of American Samoa. pp. 30, 89. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  3. ^ a b Gray, John Alexander Clinton (1980). Amerika Samoa. Ayer Publishing. p. 262. ISBN 0-405-13038-4. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  4. ^  Sunia, Fofō Iosefa Fiti (2001). Puputoa: Host of Heroes - A record of the history makers in the First Century of American Samoa, 1900-2000. Suva, Fiji: Oceania Printers. Page 26. ISBN 9829036022.
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of American Samoa
1952
Succeeded by