William Gaston

William Gaston (born October 3, 1820 in Killingly , Connecticut , † January 19, 1894 ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and from 1875 to 1876 governor of the state of Massachusetts .

Early years and political advancement

William Gaston attended Connecticut public schools and then studied at Brown University through 1840 . After studying law , he was admitted to the bar in 1844. He then began a successful career as a criminal defense lawyer in Roxbury .

Gaston was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1853 to 1854, and again in 1856 . Between 1856 and 1860 he was an attorney for the city of Roxbury and from 1861 to 1862 mayor of that municipality. In 1868 he was a member of the State Senate . Eventually he was elected mayor of Boston in 1871 . He held this office until 1872.

Massachusetts Governor

On November 3, 1874, William Gaston was elected governor of his state as the first Democrat since 1853. He took up his new office on January 7, 1875 and held it until January 5, 1876. During this time, the prohibition law in Massachusetts was repealed. At the same time, new laws were passed to control the handling of alcoholic beverages. In November 1875 Gaston failed in his renewed candidacy for governorship.

After the end of his governorship, Gaston retired from politics and returned to work as a criminal defense lawyer. He died in January 1894 and was buried in Boston. William Gaston had three children with his wife Louisa A. Beecher.

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personal data
SURNAME	Gaston, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	October 3, 1820
PLACE OF BIRTH	Killingly , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	January 19, 1894