William Wallace Thayer

William Wallace Thayer (born July 15, 1827 in Lima , New York , † October 15, 1899 in Portland , Oregon ) was an American lawyer and politician and from 1878 to 1882 the sixth governor of the state of Oregon.

Early years and political advancement

William Thayer attended the local schools in his home country before practicing law with his brother Andrew in Buffalo after studying law. In 1862 he moved to Oregon, where he also worked as a lawyer with another brother.

In 1863 he moved to the Idaho Territory . There he worked again as a lawyer from 1866. He was also a district attorney in the third judicial district of that territory . He was also a member of the Idaho Territorial Parliament between 1866 and 1867. Then he returned to Oregon and became a lawyer again. In 1878 he was elected as the Democratic Party candidate with 79 votes ahead of the Republican C. C. Beekman as the new governor.

Governor of Oregon

William Thayer took office on September 11, 1878. During his four-year term in office, the budget deficit was reduced. He fought against corruption and tried to reduce bureaucracy and make the administration leaner. At that time, land reform was implemented by law and a hospital for the mentally handicapped was built. The procedure for filling vacant judges' positions in the Oregon Supreme Court was also regulated by law.

Thayer renounced another candidacy in 1882 and resigned from his office on September 13 of that year. In 1884 he was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of his state. He held this office until 1889, where he was presiding judge from 1887. Then he withdrew into private life. William Thayer died in October 1899. He was married to Samantha C. Vincent, with whom he had one child.

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personal data
SURNAME	Thayer, William Wallace
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American lawyer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH	July 15, 1827
PLACE OF BIRTH	Lima , New York
DATE OF DEATH	October 15, 1899
Place of death	Portland , Oregon