William Kent, American congressman. member Kent & Burke, cattle feeders, Genoa, Nebraska; Member Chicago City Council, 1895-1897; member 62d Congress (1911-1913), 2d California District; member United States Tariff Commission, April since 1917.
Background
He was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 29, 1864. His father, Albert Emmett Kent had bought 800 acres of valley land that would later become the town Kentfield, California. His wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent (née Elizabeth Sherman Thacher) was the daughter of Yale professor and administrator Thomas Anthony Thacher.
Education
Parents removed to Marin Company, California, 1871. Bachelor of Arts, Yale, 1887, honorary Master of Arts, 1908.
Career
He spearheaded the movement to create the Muir Woods National Monument by donating land to the Federal Government for the Monument. Personal life
Together they had seven children including sons Sherman Kent (Yale professor and alumni of the United States Central Intelligence Agency) and Roger Kent (United States politician). Sherman Day Thacher was his brother-in-law.
Upon graduation, Kent returned to Chicago and entered the real estate and livestock businesses.
In 1907, Kent returned to California and entered the national stage of politics by earning election as a progressive Republican to the 62nd United States Congress. Foreign the 63rd and 64th Congresses he was reelected as an Independent.
In total, he served in Congress from March 4, 1911 to March 4, 1917. In 1916, Kent was the lead sponsor of the legislation in the House of Representatives that created the National Park Service.
The similar Senate bill was sponsored by Reed Smoot.
The legislation passed the House of Representatives on July 1, 1916, passed the Senate on August 5, and was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916. Kent was also heavily involved in local politics. He was one of the major supporters of the creation of the Marin Municipal Water District in 1911, and also backed early efforts for a Golden Gate Bridge.
While Kent supported conservation, he also actively worked to promote growth and development in Marin, such as his support for the Mountain.
Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railway, a renowned Marin County attraction partially funded by his father, Albert Emmett Kent. His wealth as one of the major landowners in the county increased greatly as property values rose.
Following his career in Congress, Kent was appointed to the United States Tariff Commission (now known as the United States International Trade Commission). He served on the Commission from March 21, 1917 to March 31, 1920.
Kent died on March 13, 1928 in Kentfield, California from pneumonia.
His remains were cremated in Oakland, California. Legacy
Kent was also a philanthropist. To protect the redwood grove from development, he donated 295 acres (119 km²) to the Federal Government.
President Theodore Roosevelt declared the area a national monument in 1908 and suggested naming the monument after Kent.
Kent demurred and suggested the grove be named Muir Woods National Monument, after naturalist John Muir. Portraits of the Kent family by artist Herbert A. Collins hang there.
Achievements
Membership
Member Kent & Burke, cattle feeders, Genoa, Nebraska. Member Chicago City Council, 1895-1897. Member 62d Congress (1911-1913), 2d California District.
Member United States Tariff Commission, April since 1917.
Connections
Married Elizabeth Thacher, February 26, 1890. Children: Albert Emmett, Thomas Thacher, Elizabeth Sherman, William, Adaline Dutton, Sherman, Roger.