Foster MacGowan Voorhees

Foster MacGowan Voorhees (born November 5, 1856 in Clinton , Hunterdon County , New Jersey , † June 4, 1927 ibid) was an American politician and in 1898 and from 1899 to 1902 governor of the state of New Jersey.

Early years and political advancement

Foster Voorhees attended Rutgers University until 1876 . After studying law and being admitted to the bar, he took up this profession. Politically, he joined the Republican Party . Between 1888 and 1891 he was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly ; from 1894 to 1898 he was a member of the State Senate . In 1898 he was president of this body. In this capacity he became governor after the resignation of Governor John W. Griggs on February 1, 1898.

Governor of New Jersey

Voorhees was then governor of his state until October 18 of the same year. On that day he resigned from his office, only to be elected to a separate term on November 8 of this year. The reason for his resignation was his intended re-election. According to the state constitution, this would not have been possible if he had already been in the office of governor at the time of the election. The previous President of the House of Representatives, David Ogden Watkins, bridged the intervening period until he took office again on January 17, 1899 .

In his three-year term that followed, the state's roads were upgraded and a new arsenal built in Trenton . Voorhees also stood up for the orphans and improved the school and prison system in New Jersey. Governor Voorhees also supported the protection of the environment and the creation of natural parks. In collaboration with President Theodore Roosevelt, the Palisade Interstate Park was created . He later bequeathed a considerable area (325 acres) to the state from his own property, which became Voorhees State Park . In 1900, the governor was one of the delegates to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia , at which incumbent William McKinley was again nominated as the party's presidential candidate.

Another résumé

After his tenure on January 21, 1902, Voorhees withdrew from politics and devoted himself to his private affairs. He died on June 4, 1927 and was buried in his hometown of Clinton.

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personal data
SURNAME	Voorhees, Foster MacGowan
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	November 5, 1856
PLACE OF BIRTH	Clinton , New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH	June 4, 1927
Place of death	Clinton , New Jersey