John Marshall Hamilton

John Marshall Hamilton (born May 28, 1847 in Ridgewood , Ohio , † September 22, 1905 in Chicago , Illinois ) was an American politician and the 18th governor of Illinois from 1883 to 1885 .

Early years

John Hamilton moved his family to the Wenona , Illinois area in 1854 . There he also attended the local schools. As a young man, he took part in the final phase of the civil war as a simple soldier in the Union Army . After the war he studied at Ohio Wesleyan University . He then became a teacher and even professor of Latin at Illinois Wesley University. In the end, however, he decided to pursue a legal career. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1870. He then opened a law firm in Bloomington .

Political rise

Hamilton's political career began in 1876 when he was elected to the Illinois Senate. He held this mandate until 1880. That year he was nominated by his Republican Party for the office of lieutenant governor . After the successful election, he took up this position in January 1881. When incumbent Governor Shelby Cullom resigned from office in February 1883 to take a seat in the US Congress, Hamilton took his place.

Illinois Governor

Hamilton's tenure ran from February 16, 1883 to January 30, 1885. As governor, he campaigned for an improvement in the educational system. At that time, compulsory schooling was introduced in Illinois. In October 1883, at the urging of the railways in Illinois and throughout the United States, uniform time zones were established. Governor Hamilton also had to deal with civil unrest in some districts of the country. In addition, the funds were provided for the completion of the Capitol in Springfield during his tenure .

Another résumé

At the end of his tenure, Hamilton practiced law in Chicago. He died there in 1905. He was married to Helen William, with whom he had three children.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, Conn. 1978, 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Hamilton, John Marshall
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Illinois Governor
DATE OF BIRTH	May 28, 1847
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ridgewood , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH	September 22, 1905
Place of death	Chicago , Illinois