Augustus E. Willson

Augustus Willson

Augustus Everett Willson (born October 13, 1846 in Maysville , Kentucky , † August 24, 1931 in Louisville , Kentucky) was an American politician and the 36th governor of the state of Kentucky.

Early youth and political advancement

Augustus Willson received his education in New York State . He attended the Alfred Academy and Harvard University . He then studied law at Harvard Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He then worked as an attorney for John Marshall Harlan , later chairman of the US Supreme Court ( Chief Justice of the United States ). The two remained lifelong friends.

Willson was a member of the Republican Party and was a delegate at almost all Republican National Conventions between 1884 and 1916 . He only missed the party congresses in 1896 and 1900. However, it was difficult for him to be elected to public office. Several attempts to get into Congress failed, as did a candidacy for the Kentucky Senate . In 1903 he was defeated in the Republican primary by Morris B. Belknap. Four years later he managed to get his party's nomination.

Kentucky governor

Due to the fragmentation within the Democratic Party over the question of prohibition , he managed to win the election with 51.2% of the vote against Samuel Hager (46.9%). His term began on December 10, 1907 and ended four years later on December 12, 1911. Two events from his reign are noteworthy. For one thing, he often made use of his right to pardon. Almost everyone involved in the murder of former Governor William Goebel , including the suspect ex-Governor William Taylor , was pardoned. This approach was not undisputed and had a partisan aftertaste. On the other hand, it is also worth mentioning that he declared a state of emergency military to suppress unrest in the western part of the country ( Black Patch Tobacco Wars ). Otherwise, the governor did not have any great political success, which was also due to the fact that he could not find majorities for his proposals. Nationwide he was from 1908 to 1910 chairman of the national governor's meetings.

After the end of his tenure, he was again a lawyer in Louisville. From 1910 to 1919 he was on the board of directors of Harvard University. Willson died on August 24, 1931. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Eklin.

Web links

• Augustus Willson in the National Governors Association (English)
• Biography in Spartacus Schoolnet (English)
• Augustus E. Willson in the database of Find a Grave (English)