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| '''Augustus Everett Willson''' (], ] – ], ]) was the thirty-sixth ]. Orphaned at the age of twelve, Willson went to live with relatives in ]. This move exposed him to such literary masters as ] |
'''Augustus Everett Willson''' (], ] – ], ]) was the thirty-sixth ]. Orphaned at the age of twelve, Willson went to live with relatives in ]. This move exposed him to such literary masters as ], ], ], and ] who were associates of his older brother, poet ]. He was also afforded the opportunity to attend ], where he earned an ] in 1869. | ||
| Another move found Willson living with future ] Michael C. Kerr. Kerr's letter of introduction helped Willson secure a position at the law firm of future ] ]. Willson and Harlan became life-long friends, and Willson's association with Harlan deepened his support of the ]. | Another move found Willson living with future ] Michael C. Kerr. Kerr's letter of introduction helped Willson secure a position at the law firm of future ] ]. Willson and Harlan became life-long friends, and Willson's association with Harlan deepened his support of the ]. | ||
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| ==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
| Augustus Willson was born on ], ] in ], the son of Hiram and Ann Colvin (Ennis) Willson. A year following his birth, his father moved the family to ]. In 1852, the family moved again, this time to ]. In 1856, Willson's mother died. Three years later, his father also died, leaving him an orphan at the age of twelve. He and his younger sister went to live with their grandmother in ]. Willson then moved to ] to live with his brother Forceythe, a poet of some reknown. There, he was exposed to men of letters such as Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Augustus Willson was born on ], ] in ], the son of Hiram and Ann Colvin (Ennis) Willson. A year following his birth, his father moved the family to ]. In 1852, the family moved again, this time to ]. In 1856, Willson's mother died. Three years later, his father also died, leaving him an orphan at the age of twelve. He and his younger sister went to live with their grandmother in ]. Willson then moved to ] to live with his brother Forceythe, a poet of some reknown. There, he was exposed to men of letters such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell.<ref name=powell80>Powell, p. 80</ref><ref name=appleton141>Appleton, p. 141</ref> | ||
| Willson attended Alfred Academy in ] and received an A.B. |
Willson attended Alfred Academy in ] and enrolled at Harvard University in 1865. His brother Forceythe became terminally ill during Willson's sophomore year, and he took a brief hiatus from his studies to care for him.<ref name=anb>''American National Biography''</ref> Following Forceythe's death, Willson resumed his studies, and received an A.B. in 1869. After graduation, he briefly studied at ] and continued his studies in the law firm of Lothrop, Bishop, and Lincoln in ]. He returned to New Albany in 1870, where he lived with ] congressman Michael C. Kerr and was admitted to the ]. In 1874, Kerr wrote a letter of introduction for Willson when he applied for position in the law firm of John Marshall Harlan. Harlan described Willson as "one of the brightest young fellows I ever met." The two became life-long friends, and Willson's association with Harlan strengthened his ties to the Republican Party. Willson became a junior partner in Harlan's firm, continuing there until Harlan's appointment as a Supreme Court justice.<ref name=appleton141 /> | ||
| On ], ], Willson married Mary Elizabeth Ekin;{{ref|wife|}} their only child died as an infant.<ref name=powell80 /> | On ], ], Willson married Mary Elizabeth Ekin;{{ref|wife|}} their only child died as an infant.<ref name=powell80 /> | ||
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| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| *{{cite web |url=http://www.public.asu.edu/~icprv/courses/hst315/secret315/biographies/Prog/ky.gov.prog..txt |title=American National Biography Online: Willson, Augustus Everett |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |format=TXT |accessdate=2007-09-05}} | |||
| *{{cite book |last=Appleton, Jr. |first=Thomas H. |chapter=Augustus Everett Willson |title=''Kentucky's Governors'' |editor=Lowell Hayes Harrison |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=] |year=2004 |isbn=0813123267}} | *{{cite book |last=Appleton, Jr. |first=Thomas H. |chapter=Augustus Everett Willson |title=''Kentucky's Governors'' |editor=Lowell Hayes Harrison |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=] |year=2004 |isbn=0813123267}} | ||
| *{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lowell H. |authorlink=Lowell H. Harrison |chapter=Willson, Augustus Everett |editor=Kleber, John E. |others=Associate editors: ], Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter |title=''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'' |year=1992 |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=] |isbn=0813117720}} | *{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lowell H. |authorlink=Lowell H. Harrison |chapter=Willson, Augustus Everett |editor=Kleber, John E. |others=Associate editors: ], Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter |title=''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'' |year=1992 |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |location=] |isbn=0813117720}} | ||
Revision as of 12:04, 5 September 2007
| Augustus E. Willson | |
|---|---|
| 36 Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office December 10, 1907 – December 12, 1911 | |
| Lieutenant | William H. Cox |
| Preceded by | J. C. W. Beckham |
| Succeeded by | James B. McCreary |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 13, 1846 Maysville, Kentucky |
| Died | August 24, 1931(1931-08-24) (aged 84) Louisville, Kentucky |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Elizabeth Ekin |
| Relations | Brother of Forceythe Willson |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Augustus Everett Willson (October 13, 1846 – August 24, 1931) was the thirty-sixth Governor of Kentucky. Orphaned at the age of twelve, Willson went to live with relatives in New England. This move exposed him to such literary masters as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell who were associates of his older brother, poet Forceythe Willson. He was also afforded the opportunity to attend Harvard University, where he earned an A.B. in 1869.
Another move found Willson living with future Speaker of the House Michael C. Kerr. Kerr's letter of introduction helped Willson secure a position at the law firm of future Supreme Court justice John Marshall Harlan. Willson and Harlan became life-long friends, and Willson's association with Harlan deepened his support of the Republican Party.
A Republican in a primarily Democratic state, Willson suffered several defeats for public office, but was elected governor of Kentucky on his second attempt. The division of the Democratic Party on the issue of alcohol sales helped Willson secure the office, but the issue also divided the General Assembly and assured that few other legislative matters were considered during his term. He further alienated the Assembly by pardoning several individuals involved in the assassination of Democratic governor William Goebel and declaring martial law as a means of quelling the violence of the Black Patch War. Following his largely unproductive tenure in office, Willson retired to Louisville, where he died in 1931.
Early life
Augustus Willson was born on October 13, 1846 in Maysville, Kentucky, the son of Hiram and Ann Colvin (Ennis) Willson. A year following his birth, his father moved the family to Covington, Kentucky. In 1852, the family moved again, this time to New Albany, Indiana. In 1856, Willson's mother died. Three years later, his father also died, leaving him an orphan at the age of twelve. He and his younger sister went to live with their grandmother in Allegany County, New York. Willson then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to live with his brother Forceythe, a poet of some reknown. There, he was exposed to men of letters such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell.
Willson attended Alfred Academy in New York and enrolled at Harvard University in 1865. His brother Forceythe became terminally ill during Willson's sophomore year, and he took a brief hiatus from his studies to care for him. Following Forceythe's death, Willson resumed his studies, and received an A.B. in 1869. After graduation, he briefly studied at Harvard Law School and continued his studies in the law firm of Lothrop, Bishop, and Lincoln in Boston, Massachusetts. He returned to New Albany in 1870, where he lived with Indiana congressman Michael C. Kerr and was admitted to the bar. In 1874, Kerr wrote a letter of introduction for Willson when he applied for position in the law firm of John Marshall Harlan. Harlan described Willson as "one of the brightest young fellows I ever met." The two became life-long friends, and Willson's association with Harlan strengthened his ties to the Republican Party. Willson became a junior partner in Harlan's firm, continuing there until Harlan's appointment as a Supreme Court justice.
On July 23, 1877, Willson married Mary Elizabeth Ekin; their only child died as an infant.
Political career
Willson's political career began when was he appointed chief clerk of the U.S. Treasury Department under Benjamin Bristow, serving from December 1875 to August 1876. A Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, Willson suffered several defeats in his canvasses for public office, his 1879 loss in an election for a seat in the Kentucky Senate marked the first in a string of political defeats. He failed in bids to represent Kentucky's Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1884, 1886, 1888, and 1892. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1884, 1888, 1892, 1904, 1908, and 1916.
In 1903, Willson unsuccessfully challenged M. B. Belknap for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Belknap was handily defeated by Democrat J. C. W. Beckham in the general election, and in 1907, Willson was chosen as the Republican candidate for governor. The primary campaign issues were temperance legislation and alleged scandals during the administration of William O. Bradley, Kentucky's first Republican governor. Both Willson and his Democratic opponent, State Auditor Samuel Wilber Hager, favored the local option solution for the liquor question. Strong support from Jefferson County voters (particularly the city of Louisville) and infighting within the Democratic party carried Willson to an 8,000 vote victory. (A smattering of votes were also cast for minor party candidates.) He was sworn in on December 10, 1907.
Willson drew the ire of the Democratic General Assembly almost immediately by issuing pardons for several individuals convicted of complicity in the assassination of Governor William Goebel. These included former Republican governor William S. Taylor and Taylor's Secretary of State, Caleb Powers. He further alienated the legislature by deploying the National Guard and declaring martial law in several western (and predominantly Democratic) counties in response to the Black Patch War.
The Democratic party remained divided on the issue of alcohol sales. In 1908, the Kentucky House passed a local option law, but it was blocked in the Senate. The issue was also a factor in the election to decide which of two former governors to send to the U.S. Senator that year. After twenty-eight ballots, four Democrats abandoned their party's "dry" candidate (Beckham) and voted for the Republicans' "wet" candidate (Bradley.) Due to its preoccupation with the liquor issue, the Assembly scarcely considered other legislation such as tax reform and redistricting during Willson's term. Most of the governor's suggestions were summarily ignored. Nationally, he enjoyed somewhat higher esteem, serving as chair of the National Governors' Conference in 1908 and 1910.
Later life
Following his term as governor, Willson returned to his legal practice in Louisville. From 1910 to 1919, he served on the Harvard University Board of Overseers. He also lost a bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate to former governor J. C. W. Beckham in 1914. He died on August 24, 1931, and is buried in the Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
References
- ^ Powell, p. 80
- ^ Appleton, p. 141
- American National Biography
- ^ Harrison, p. 959
- ^ NGA Bio
- Appleton, p. 144
- "American National Biography Online: Willson, Augustus Everett" (TXT). Oxford University Press. 2000. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- Appleton, Jr., Thomas H. (2004). "Augustus Everett Willson". In Lowell Hayes Harrison (ed.). Kentucky's Governors. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813123267.
- Harrison, Lowell H. (1992). "Willson, Augustus Everett". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.
- "Kentucky Governor Augustus Everett Willson". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- Powell, Robert A. (1976). Kentucky Governors. Danville, Kentucky: Bluegrass Printing Company. ISBN B0006CPOVM.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help)
Footnotes
Appleton and the National Governors Association list the name as "Ekin." Powell suggests "Elkin," while Harrison lists "Ekins."
See also
| Preceded byJ. C. W. Beckham | Governor of Kentucky 1907–1912 |
Succeeded byJames B. McCreary |
