| William Gaston | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 29th Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 7, 1875 – January 6, 1876 |
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| Lieutenant | Horatio G. Knight |
| Preceded by | William B. Washburn Thomas Talbot as Acting Governor |
| Succeeded by | Alexander H. Rice |
| 21st Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1871–1872 |
|
| Preceded by | Nathaniel B. Shurtleff |
| Succeeded by | Henry L. Pierce |
| 8th Mayor of Roxbury, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1861–1862 |
|
| Preceded by | Theodore Otis |
| Succeeded by | George Lewis |
| Member of the Massachusetts State Senate[1] | |
| In office 1868[1] – 1868[1] |
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| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[1] | |
| In office 1856[1] – 1856[1] |
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| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[1] | |
| In office 1853[1] – 1854[1] |
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| Member of the Common Council Ward 3[2] Roxbury, Massachusetts |
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| In office 1849–1853 |
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| Preceded by | William G. Eaton |
| 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 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 3, 1820 Killingly, Connecticut |
| Died | January 19, 1894 (aged 73) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Brown University |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
William Gaston (October 3, 1820 – January 19, 1894) was the 29th 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 to 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 b c d e f g h i Eliot, Samuel Atkins (1855), Biographical history of Massachusetts: Biographies and Autobiographies of the Leading Men in the State, Volume I, Boston, MA: Massachusetts Biographical Society.
- ^ a b 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 Acting Governor |
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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