John C. Catlin

John Conyngham Catlin (March 12, 1871 – July 9, 1951) was an American lawyer and politician. He practiced law for more than thirty years, in Sacramento, San Francisco, and for a short time in Alaska. He was a former mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1932-1934, and served on the Carmel City Council in 1934. His father started a law firm in Sacramento, California in 1850. As a young boy, he knew John Sutter, Sacramento's founder; James W. Marshall, discoverer of gold; Edwin B. Crocker and Leland Stanford, who pioneered the western portion of the first transcontinental railroad; and John Bidwell, founder the city of Chico, California.

Career Law practice In July 1892, Catlin was admitted to the bar of San Francisco and established a law practice in Sacramento until 1899. He worked at different law firms, including for a short time in Alaska in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. By 1906, he became a senior member of the firm of Catlin & Catlin at 628 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, with his brother Hairy C. Catlin.

Move to Carmel-by-the-Sea At age 56, Catlin retired as a lawyer in 1922, and moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. He was an expert horseman, and to earn extra money he worked as the riding master at the Carmel School of Riding and Saddle Livery on Ocean Avenue and Junipero Street.

In 1925, Catlin assisted Herbert Heron at the Forest Theater. Catlin, Una Jeffers, and others created sets for the Forest Theater's production of Hamlet in 1926.

The Forge was converted to a restaurant and saloon in the fall of 1970, called Forge in the Forest. Photographs of Whitaker and the original Forge building are on display inside the current Forge restaurant.

Blacksmith mayor of Carmel Catlin was a candidate for city councilman in 1928 and 1930.

His election as mayor was during the Great Depression and the Prohibition. Catlin was successful to overturn a law enforced by the Carmel Development Company that profited alcohol consumption for property owners.

Death Catlin died on July 9, 1951, at age 81, in Carmel-by-the-Sea after a brief illness. Funeral services were private at the Dorney and Farlinger mortuary in Monterey.

List of publications Nicodemus: A Miracle Play Nicodemus: Catlin's Negotiable Instruments