Frederick Walker Pitkin

Frederick Walker Pitkin (born August 31, 1837 in Manchester , Connecticut , † December 18, 1886 in Denver , Colorado ) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) and from 1879 to 1883 the second governor of the US state Colorado.

Early years and advancement

Frederick Pitkin attended Wesleyan University until 1858 . After studying law at Albany Law School , he was admitted to the bar in 1859. In 1860 he moved to Milwaukee , Wisconsin , where he became a partner in a successful law firm. Due to an illness he was forced to give up this position in 1872. Instead, he went on a two-year trip to Europe to cure his illness. On his return in 1874, he moved to southwest Colorado. There his health improved and he returned to practice as a lawyer. He also got into the mining business.

Governor of colorado

In 1878 Pitkin was elected governor of his state. He took up his new office on January 14, 1879 and, after being re-elected in 1880, was able to remain in office until January 9, 1883. He has faced various crises during his two terms as governor. These include the "railroad war" in which the Atchison, Topeka-Santa Fe and Denver-Rio Grande railroads were involved. He also suppressed a Ute Indian uprising at the Battle of Milk Creek and declared martial law to combat a miners' strike in Leadville . His candidacy for the US Senate in 1882 was unsuccessful.

After the end of his tenure, Pitkin withdrew from politics. He worked as a lawyer again and devoted himself to mining. Frederick Pitkin died in December 1886. He was married to Fidelia M. James, with whom he had four children. The Pitkin County , Colorado is named after him.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Pitkin, Frederick Walker
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	August 31, 1837
PLACE OF BIRTH	Manchester , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	December 18, 1886
Place of death	Denver , Colorado