William Rush Merriam

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William Rush Merriam

William Rush Merriam (born July 26, 1849 in Wadham's Mills , Essex County , New York , † February 18, 1931 in Port Sewall , Florida ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Minnesota from 1889 to 1893 .

Early years and political advancement

William Merriam attended Racine College in Wisconsin until 1871 . Then he got into banking. In 1880 he became president of the Merchants National Bank in St. Paul . Politically, he became a member of the Republican Party . From 1883 he was a member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota ; in 1887 he was the successor to John L. Gibbs the speaker of this body. In 1888 he succeeded in asserting himself against incumbent governor Andrew Ryan McGill and to win his party's nomination for the office of governor.

Minnesota governor

After he had won the actual gubernatorial election on November 6, 1888 against the Democrat Eugene McLanahan Wilson with a share of 51.35 percent of the vote, he was able to take up his new office on January 9, 1889. After re-election in 1890, he held this office until January 4, 1893. In his four-year term of office, the national debt was reduced. Industry, especially iron ore processing, flourished. A new mental hospital was built in Minnesota during Merriam's tenure. In addition, the voting system has been improved with the introduction of secret voting. Politically, a new movement arose in Minnesota with the Farmers' Alliance , which represented the interests of agriculture.

Another résumé

After the end of his governorship, Merriam remained politically active. Between 1899 and 1903 he was the head of the United States Federal Statistical Office . This office was established as a permanent body by Congress at the time . After retiring from this position, Merriam did not return to Minnesota. He spent his retirement in Florida, where he died in 1931. He had five children with his wife, Laura E. Hancock.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

Commons : William Rush Merriam  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Our Campaigns: MN Governor, Nov.6, 1888
personal data
SURNAME Merriam, William Rush
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH July 26, 1849
PLACE OF BIRTH Wadham's Mills , New York
DATE OF DEATH February 18, 1931
Place of death Port Sewall , Florida