NAME, Years Elected to City Council

William B Pringle (1872-1916) served one term on City Council in 1897.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION

Republican1

BIO

William Pringle was born in Oakland and attended Oakland public schools. He went to Yale and later Hastings Law School in San Francisco where he continued to practice law. Pringle's great-grandfather, John Julius Pringle, was made appointed Judge of the District of South Carolina by President George Washington. His maternal great-grandmother was Rebecca Motte, a Revolutionary War heroine. Pringle's father, Edward Pringle arrived in San Francisco in 1853 and was part of the law firm Whitcomb, Pringle & Felton which, at one point, was the largest firm in the city.

In 1899 the firm that Pringle, his dad and his brother now worked at became Pringle & Pringle. 

Pringle, like most important people in Oakland in the 19th century, was also involved in real estate, both in Oakland and in San Francisco.

His other interest was football. His brother Charles was a football star at the University of California and Pringle coached a team for many years. 3 Charles was killed in 1916 by Mexicans in a much-publicized incident. The surviving Pringle's reaction was also much-publicized as they called for retribution all the way up to President Wilson. 4

After living in Oakland, Pringle moved to San Mateo County, which is where he died of "double pneumonia" after a failed blood transfusion from his brother. 2

OTHER POSITIONS IN CITY GOVERNMENT

 

 

REFERENCES

  1. "MEN FAVORED BY THE REPUBLICANS." San Francisco Chronicle: Jan 20, 1897.
  2. "Transfusion Fails to Save Life of William B. Pringle." San Francisco Chronicle: Dec 20: 1916.
  3. "Great Men and Great Men's Achievements Are the Background for California's Progress." San Francisco Chronicle: Jan 16, 1915.
  4. "Pringle's Brothers Demand Justice: Wilson Is Asked to Punish Mexicans." San Francisco Chronicle: Jan 13, 1916.
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