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| date_of_birth =[[March 16]], [[1864]]
| place_of_birth =Russell County, Alabama
| date_of_death =[[January 29]], [[1937]]
| place_of_death =Pensacola
| occupation =Shipbroker, businessman
| religion =Presbyterian
| spouse =[[Mary Turner Merritt]]
| parents =[[Louis Lucius Manlius Merritt|Louis M.]] and [[Elizabeth McGaughy Merritt|Elizabeth Merritt]]| children =Mary Elizabeth Merritt<br/>Emma Turner Merritt<br/>John A. Merritt, Jr.<br/>Doris W. Merritt<br/>Richard H. Merritt
| signature =
| signaturesize =
==Early life==
Merritt was born in Russell County, Alabama, in [[1864]]. His father, [[Louis Lucius Manlius Merritt]], was away in England seeking supplies for the Confederacy. The Merritt family came to Pensacola in July [[1869]] aboard the ship ''Mine Lizzie''.<ref name="stjohns">[http://www.stjohnshistoriccemetery.com/pensacolas_heritages/business.htm#john_a_merritt St. John's Historic Cemetery]</ref>
The young Merritt was educated first in local schools, then at University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and the Bingham School in Mebane, North Carolina.<ref>Florida Historical Society. [http://books.google.com/books?id=yDo6VhLx6fEC&pg=PA313 ''Makers of America: An Historical and Biographical Work By an Able Corps of Writers'']. Jacksonville, 1909.</ref>
==Business career==
In January [[1893]], the elder Merritt died, and his son took over his shipbroker business, renaming it [[John A. Merritt and Company]]. Around In March [[1900]], [[Richard H. Turner, Jr.]] joined him as a partner. Merritt also operated the [[Pensacola Supply Company]], a stevedoring firm.<ref name="stjohns" />
Merritt was also active in other fields of business. He served on the boards of the [[Citizens National Bank]] and the [[Pensacola Hotel Company]]. He was a partner in the [[Bluff Springs Gravel Company]] and a one-third owner of the [[Bayou Chico Land Company]]. He was also a founding member of the [[Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce]] and in [[1923]] served as its president.<ref name="stjohns" />
==Political career==
In [[1894]], Merritt was elected [[Escambia County City of Pensacola Tax Assessor|City Tax Assessor]]. In [[1906]], he was elected to the [[Escambia County Commission]], and served as its chairman through [[1908]]. In [[1931]], he was elected to the [[Pensacola City Council]], the first under the new charter passed that year.<ref name="stjohns" />
==Personal life==
Merritt was active in a number of social organizations, including the [[Pensacola Country Club]], [[YMCA]], [[Rotary Club]], [[Osceola Club]], and [[Knights of the Pythias]].<ref name="stjohns" />
Merritt was married to Mary Turner in [[1892]]. The couple had ten children, five childrenof which lived to adulthood. Merritt was buried in [[St. John's Cemetery]].<ref name="stjohns" />
==References==
