William Irwin

William Irwin (born around 1827 in Butler County , Ohio , † March 15, 1886 in San Francisco , California ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and the 13th governor of California .

biography

Irwin graduated from Marietta College in Ohio in 1848 . There he later found a job as a teacher. After moving to California, he initially worked in various positions in the private sector.

His first political office was that of MP in the California State Assembly . At the same time he was the editor of a newspaper. Eventually Irwin was elected to the California Senate and even became its chairman. In this capacity he was automatically appointed lieutenant governor in January 1875 after the previous incumbent Romualdo Pacheco had become governor in turn. The previous Governor Newton Booth had resigned to go to Washington in federal politics. Irwin remained lieutenant governor for the next nine months and then ran for governor in turn. After his election victory over the Republican Timothy Guy Phelps , he took up his new office in December 1875, which he held until the end of the legislature. Irwin didn't think much of paper money and swore by a hard currency based on gold and silver. He was also an opponent of the right to pardon governors and called for this instrument to be abolished. Former Governor Frederick Low said of Irwin that his reputation was based on looking smart and keeping his mouth shut. Indeed, Irwin's term in office was politically uneventful. Worth mentioning is the second California constitutional convention, which met in 1879.

In 1880 Irwin resigned from office. He died in San Francisco on March 15, 1886.

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personal data
SURNAME	Irwin, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	around 1827
PLACE OF BIRTH	Butler County , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH	March 15, 1886
Place of death	San Francisco , California