Arthur Yager

Arthur Yager served as the governor of [Puerto Rico] from 1913 to 1921.

Biography

Yager was born in Campbellsburg in Henry [County, Kentucky|Henry County], Kentucky. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Georgetown [College (Kentucky)|Georgetown College] in Kentucky, and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. Yager then became a professor of history, economics, and politics at Georgetown College while becoming active in politics. He served as President of Georgetown College from 1908 to 1913.
In 1913, President of [the United States|President] Woodrow Wilson, a fellow Democrat who had been a classmate of Yager's when both attended Johns Hopkins University, appointed Yager to the governorship of Puerto Rico. During Yager's administration, and with his support, the United [States Congress] adopted the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917, which imposed United States citizenship on Puerto Ricans.
Yager served as governor until Wilson's presidency expired. He was succeeded by Emmet [Montgomery Reily], an appointee of President Warren G. Harding. Yager returned to Kentucky, where he died in Pewee Valley at the age of 83.
A collection of Yager's correspondence from his time as Governor is archived at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky and open for research.