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William Irwin (California politician)

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William Irwin
13th Governor of California
In office
December 9, 1875 – January 8, 1880
LieutenantJames A. Johnson
Preceded byRomualdo Pacheco
Succeeded byGeorge C. Perkins
Acting Lieutenant Governor of California
In office
February 27, 1875 – December 9, 1875
GovernorRomualdo Pacheco
Preceded byRomualdo Pacheco
Succeeded byJames A. Johnson
19th President pro tempore of the California State Senate
In office
March 13, 1874 – February 27, 1875
Preceded byJames T. Farley
Succeeded byBenjamin F. Tuttle
Member of the California State Senate from the 28th district
In office
1869–1875
Member of the California State Assembly from the 28th district
In office
1862–1864
Personal details
Born(1827-07-12)July 12, 1827[citation needed]
Oxford, Ohio, U.S.
Died (aged 58)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAmelia Elizabeth Cassidy
Children1
ProfessionEducator, laborer
Signature

William Irwin (July 12,[citation needed] 1827 – March 15, 1886) was an American politician from the Democratic Party who served as the 13th governor of California between 1875 and 1880. He previously served as acting lieutenant governor for nine months in 1875.

Born in Butler County, Ohio, Irwin graduated in 1848 from Marietta College in Marietta, where he later became an instructor. After moving to California, Irwin worked in various private industries and in 1865 was a candidate for Siskiyou County Tax Collector but lost.[1] He was eventually elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 28th district.[1] He became the editor of a newspaper and then was elected to the California State Senate. He served as President pro tempore of the Senate and as such, became acting lieutenant governor in 1875 when Lieutenant Governor Romualdo Pacheco became governor. Irwin was elected governor in his own right that same year. He died in 1886 in San Francisco, California and was interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery in Sacramento, California.[2]

Irwin was the one who appointed young journalist Henry George to the office of State Inspector of Gas Meters in 1876, which lifted George and his family out of destitution and allowed him to write Progress and Poverty.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Vassar, Alex; Meyers, Shane. "William Irwin". JoinCalifornia. JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "California Governor William Irwin". National Governors Association. 2004. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  3. ^ George, Henry Jr. (1900). The Life of Henry George. New York: Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. pp. 247–249. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of California
1875
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
District created
California State Assemblyman, 28th District
1862–1863
(with Caleb N. Thornbury, then Benjamin F. Varney)
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Romualdo Pacheco
Lieutenant Governor
Acting Lieutenant Governor of California
1875
Succeeded by
James A. Johnson
Lieutenant Governor
Preceded by Governor of California
1875–1880
Succeeded by