Martin F. Ansel

Martin Frederick Ansel

Martin Frederick Ansel (born December 12, 1850 in Charleston , South Carolina , † August 23, 1945 in Greenville , South Carolina) was an American politician and governor of South Carolina from 1907 to 1911.

Early years and political advancement

Martin Ansel was the son of a family who immigrated from Württemberg. He grew up in a place called Walhalla, South Carolina. There he also attended elementary school. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1870. He then practiced for a few years in Franklin, North Carolina . before opening a practice in Greenville, South Carolina. Ansel was a member of the Democratic Party. From 1882 to 1888 he was a member of the state parliament of South Carolina . Then he was until 1901 public prosecutor in the 8th judicial district of the country. In 1902 he tried unsuccessfully for his party's top candidacy for the gubernatorial elections.

Governor of south carolina

In 1906 he was nominated by his party for the gubernatorial elections and on November 6th of the same year he was elected to this office without opposing candidates. His re-election on November 3, 1908 was also unopposed. Overall he was from January 15, 1907 to January 17, 1911 Governor of South Carolina. During this time the state alcohol monopoly introduced by Benjamin Ryan Tillman in the early 1890s was finally abolished. It was left to the individual districts (counties) whether they wanted to issue an absolute ban on alcohol (Prohibition) or not. By 1909, 20 of a total of 41 counties had opted for prohibition. Ten years later, a constitutional amendment would make prohibition federal law in the United States. That law was then repealed in 1933 because it was impracticable and had given a huge boost to organized crime through alcohol smuggling. The school system was reorganized under Governor Ansel. Universities that were previously under the supervision of subordinate administrative units such as the counties or municipalities were now directly subordinated to the state administration. Many new schools were also established at that time. In 1908, the electric chair replaced "hanging" as the method of execution.

Further life

After the end of his second term of office, Ansel was not allowed to run for a third consecutive term because of a constitutional clause. He then resumed his legal practice in Greenville. Martin Ansel died in August 1945 at the age of 94. He was married twice and had three children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 4. Meckler Books, Westport, CT, 1978. 4 volumes.
• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. 12. James T. White & Company, New York

Web links

• Martin Ansel in the National Governor Association (English)
• South Carolina Information Highway (English)