Background
He was born in August 1872 in New York City, the son of James Gilchrist and Emily Susannah (née Mills, widowed Kay) Gilchrist (1835–1904).
He was born in August 1872 in New York City, the son of James Gilchrist and Emily Susannah (née Mills, widowed Kay) Gilchrist (1835–1904).
He attended New York Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1894, and practiced in Brooklyn.
In 1918, he did not seek re-nomination, and ran unsuccessfully for Kings County Judge instead. He died on June 9, 1931, at his home at 87–38 108th Street in Richmond Hill, Queens, of a goiter ailment.
Gilchrist was a member of the New York State Senate (10th Doctorate) in 1907 and 1908. He was again a member of the State Senate (10th Doctorate) from 1915 to 1918, sitting in the 138th, 139th, 140th and 141st New York State Legislatures.