| William Gaston | |
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| In office January 7, 1875 – January 6, 1876 |
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| Lieutenant | Horatio G. Knight |
| Preceded by | Thomas Talbot (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Alexander H. Rice |
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| In office 1871 – 1872 |
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| Preceded by | Nathaniel B. Shurtleff |
| Succeeded by | Henry L. Pierce |
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| In office 1861 – 1862 |
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| Preceded by | Theodore Otis |
| Succeeded by | George Lewis |
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| In office 1849 – 1853 |
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| Preceded by | William G. Eaton |
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4th President of the Common Council[2]
Roxbury Massachusetts |
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| In office 1849 – 1853 |
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| Preceded by | William A. Crafts |
| Succeeded by | James M. Keith |
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| Born | October 3, 1820 Killingly, Connecticut |
| Died | 1894 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Brown University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
William Gaston (1820-1894) was Governor of Massachusetts in 1875-1876.
William Gaston had established a successful legal practice in the City of Roxbury, Massachusetts before entering politics. He served as a Representative in the State Legislature (1853-1854), as Roxbury's City Solicitor (1856-60), and as its Mayor (1861 and 1862). He resumed his private practice of law until 1868, when he served in the Massachusetts Senate for a year.
The City of Boston annexed Roxbury in 1868, and in 1871, Gaston was elected Mayor of Boston. Running for Governor as a Democrat, Gaston defeated incumbent Thomas Talbot who had supported the continuance of statewide prohibition by his veto. Gaston promoted a law repealing the Commonwealth's prohibition law, leaving such restrictions to the determination of localities. Governor Gaston was defeated in his reelection bid by Alexander Rice. Gaston returned to his extremely successful legal practice, gaining renown as a trial attorney. He served as President of the Boston Bar Association from 1880-1881.
Gaston and his wife Louisa Augusta (Beecher) were the parents of William Alexander Gaston (1859-1927), who ran for governor of Massachusetts in 1902 and 1903 but lost.
References
- ^ A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown 1847-1873 and of The Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822 also of Various Other Town and Municipal officers, Boston, MA: City of Boston Printing Department, 1909, pp. 329-331.
- ^ A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown 1847-1873 and of The Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822 also of Various Other Town and Municipal officers, Boston, MA: City of Boston Printing Department, 1909, pp. 329-331.
Bibliography
- A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown 1847-1873 and of The Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822 also of Various Other Town and Municipal officers, Boston, MA: City of Boston Printing Department, (1909) pp. 329-331.
Source
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas Talbot |
Governor of Massachusetts January 7, 1875 – January 6, 1876 |
Succeeded by Alexander H. Rice |
| Preceded by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff |
Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts 1871 – 1872 |
Succeeded by Henry L. Pierce |
| Preceded by Theodore Otis |
Mayor of Roxbury, Massachusetts 1861 – 1862 |
Succeeded by George Lewis |
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