William Read Miller

William Read Miller (born November 23, 1823 in Batesville , Arkansas , † November 29, 1887 in Little Rock , Arkansas) was an American politician and between 1877 and 1881 Governor of Arkansas.

Early years and political advancement

William Miller attended local schools in his homeland and then studied law. He was not admitted to the bar until after the American Civil War in 1868. Between 1848 and 1854 he was employed by the County Council of Independence County . He was then, with a few brief interruptions, auditor for the state of Arkansas until 1864. He was to exercise this office again between 1874 and 1876. In 1877 he was elected as the Democratic Party candidate for the new governor of Arkansas.

Arkansas Governor

William Miller took office on January 11, 1877. After being re-elected in 1878, he was able to serve for four years. During this time he campaigned for the improvement of the school system and new ways of dealing with household problems. A home for the blind and the Arkansas Industrial University were built during his time. Miller promoted the economic upswing and peaceful coexistence of races in his country. When black people were attacked in Union County on the Louisiana border , he used the National Guard to protect them. The same was needed in Scott County , where hostile families were fighting a bloody feud. But Governor Miller was also known for rarely overturning a death sentence. This earned him the nickname "The Hanging Governor".

Another résumé

After his tenure on January 11, 1881, Miller was his country's deputy finance minister until 1882. At the same time he was President of the Kansas City and New Orleans Railroad Company. He was also on the board of several other railway companies. In 1886 he was again auditor in Arkansas. He died a year later and was buried in Little Rock. William Miller was married to Sarah Susan Bevers, with whom he had seven children.

literature

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

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Miller, William Read
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of Arkansas
DATE OF BIRTH	November 23, 1823
PLACE OF BIRTH	Batesville, Arkansas
DATE OF DEATH	November 29, 1887
Place of death	Little Rock , Arkansas