John C. Elliott (January 30, 1919 – April 13, 2001) was an American politician appointed as the

governor of American Samoa This is a list of Governor (United States), governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900. From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government o ...

. Elliott was born on January 30, 1919, in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. He died on April 13, 2001, in

San Marino, California San Marino is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It was incorporated on April 25, 1913. At the 2020 United States census the population was 12,513, a decline from the 2010 United States census. History Origin of name Th ...

. He is buried at the San Gabriel Cemetery in

San Gabriel, California San Gabriel (Spanish language, Spanish for "Gabriel, St. Gabriel") is a city located in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 39,568. San Gabriel was founded ...

. He took office on July 16, 1952, and left on November 23, 1952, leaving for personal reasons, and is the youngest man to ever hold the office at 33 years of age. Prior to his appointment, Elliott had served as the assistant to Governor Phelps Phelps and Secretary of American Samoa. 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 Tuiasosopo is a Samoan surname. * Tuiasosopo Mariota, a tribal leader who helped keep American Samoa American Samoa is an Territories of the United States, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the Polynes ...

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 The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term. The first name for the upper house of ...

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. 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, John C. 1919 births 2001 deaths Governors of American Samoa Politicians from Los Angeles California Democrats American Samoa Democrats 20th-century California politicians