J. Hardin Peterson

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J. Hardin Peterson

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 1st district
In office 1933 – 1951
Preceded by	Herbert J. Drane
Succeeded by	Chester B. McMullen

Born	February 11, 1894
Died	March 28, 1978
Political party	Democratic

James Hardin Peterson (February 11, 1894 - March 28, 1978) was a U.S. Representative from Florida.

Born in Batesburg, South Carolina, Peterson moved to Lakeland, Florida, in 1903. He attended the public schools. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Florida at Gainesville in 1914. He was admitted to the Florida bar in 1914 and commenced practice in Lakeland in 1915. Law clerk in United States General Land Office in 1914. City attorney of Lakeland, Florida, in 1916, 1917, and 1919-1932, of Frostproof, Florida from 1918 to 1929, of Lake Wales, Florida from 1920 to 1930, and of Eagle Lake, Florida from 1923 to 1933. During the First World War served as a chief yeoman in the United States Navy 1917-1919. He served as prosecuting attorney and county solicitor of Polk County, Florida from 1921 to 1932. He served as special counsel for the State department of agriculture 1930-1932.

Peterson was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third and to the eight succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1951). He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Seventy-eighth, Seventy-ninth, and Eighty-first Congresses). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1950 to the Eighty-second Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Lakeland, Florida. He served as special counsel for the Territorial Government of Guam. He served as chairman of Commission on Federal Application of Laws to Guam. He served as chairman and vice chairman of the board of directors, First State Bank of Lakeland. Resided in Lakeland, Florida, where he died March 28, 1978. He was interred in Roselawn Cemetery.