Wilson Shannon

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Wilson Shannon

Wilson Shannon (born February 24, 1803 in Belmont County , Ohio , †  August 30, 1877 in Lawrence , Kansas ) was an American politician . He was between 1838 and 1840 the 14th and from 1842 to 1844 the 16th  governor of the state of Ohio and between 1855 and 1856 governor of the Kansas Territory .

Early years

William Shannon attended Ohio University , Franklin College, and Transylvania University in Lexington , Kentucky . After a subsequent law degree and his admission as a lawyer in 1830, he practiced in Clairsville .

Political career

District Attorney and Governor of Ohio

In 1832, Shannon ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress . Between 1833 and 1835 he was a prosecutor in Belmont County. In 1835 he became the state prosecuting attorney in Ohio . In 1838 he was nominated as a candidate for the Democratic Party for the upcoming gubernatorial election and then also elected to this office. He prevailed with 51.4 percent of the vote against incumbent Joseph Vance of the Whigs .

Shannon's first two-year term began on December 31, 1838 and ended on December 16, 1840. In 1840 he missed re-election against Thomas Corwin , but was re-elected to that office two years later by defeating Corwin. An attempt to win a seat in the US Senate had previously failed. His second term began on December 14, 1842 and ended on April 15, 1844. During his time as governor of Ohio, the banking system was improved and the infrastructure expanded. After he was appointed US ambassador to Mexico by President John Tyler to succeed Waddy Thompson , he resigned from the office of governor in April 1845.

Ambassador and MP

The mission in Mexico was not easy because political developments were heading towards war with the USA. Shannon remained at his post in Mexico until the break in diplomatic relations in May 1845. He then worked as a lawyer in Cincinnati until 1849 . Then he tried his luck in the gold fields in California for two years with little success . Between 1853 and 1855 he was a member of the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC

Kansas Territory Governor

In August 1855, Shannon was named governor of the Kansas Territory by President Franklin Pierce . His term of office should only last about a year. At that time the civil war-like fighting in this area between supporters of the northern and southern states reached its sad climax. Shannon himself supported the positions of the South. He was powerless and inactive in the face of the unrest and raids in the country. Therefore, in 1856, he submitted his resignation to the President. However, he had already ordered his release beforehand. After Andrew Horatio Reeder , Shannon was the second governor of this territory to be dismissed.

Another résumé

After his tenure as governor ended, Shannon stayed in Kansas. He settled in Lawrence as a lawyer. Over the years he has built a reputation for this profession. Shannon died in Lawrence in 1877. He was married twice and had a total of eight children. His brother Thomas was a congressman for the state of Ohio.

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personal data
SURNAME Shannon, Wilson
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH February 24, 1803
PLACE OF BIRTH Belmont County , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH August 30, 1877
Place of death Lawrence , Kansas