James W. Husted (speaker)

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James William Husted (October 31, 1833 – September 25, 1892) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He is best known for serving six times as Speaker of the New York State Assembly, a record at the time, and was nicknamed the "Bald Eagle of Westchester."

Education and early career
- Born in Bedford, New York, he studied at Bedford Academy and graduated from Yale College in 1854.
- He studied law in Peekskill with Edward Wells and was admitted to the bar in 1857.
- He started in politics with the Know Nothing party, serving as Town Superintendent of Public Schools in Peekskill (1855) and as Westchester County School Commissioner (1858).
- After the Know Nothings merged with the Democrats in 1859, he joined the Republican Party in protest.

Public service and politics
- Before and during his Assembly career, he held various posts: Deputy Superintendent of the State Insurance Department (1860), Harbormaster of New York (1862), and Deputy Collector of the Port.
- He and his family were prominent in business and community life, allowing him to build a mansion in Peekskill.

New York State Assembly and leadership
- He served in the New York State Assembly for many years between 1869 and 1892.
- He was elected Speaker of the Assembly in 1874, 1876, 1878, 1886, 1887, and 1890, a record at the time.
- He was the Assembly’s Minority Leader in 1892.

Military and Freemasonry
- In March 1873, Governor Dix appointed him Major-General of the Fifth Division of the National Guard; he had previously served as Judge Advocate on the staff of the Seventh Brigade.
- He led the division for several years and was commonly known as General Husted.
- He was active in Freemasonry, serving as Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New York in 1876.

Later life and death
- He traveled to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in June 1892 and returned ill, dying later that year of heart and kidney disease.
- He is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Peekskill, New York.