On this date in 1863, Winfield Scott Hammond is born in Southborough, Massachusetts. Prior to becoming the state’s eighteenth governor, he would function in various educational capacities: as high school principal in Mankato, superintendent of schools in Madelia, and president of the school board of St. James. He died on December 30, 1915, the second […]
Politics
1857-02-06
On this date in 1857, during the last session of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, councilman William D. Lowry introduced a bill to remove the state capitol from St. Paul to St. Peter. The bill passed the state Council by a vote of 8-7 on February 12. After a failed fillibuster, the House then passed the […]
1869-02-25
On this date in 1869, the third Governor of the State of Minnesota, Henry A. Swift, dies in St. Peter. Swift served as governor from July 10, 1863 to January 11, 1864, making his the second shortest term for a Minnesota Governor. After serving as the third Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, Swift became governor when […]
1858-02-24
On this date in 1858, Minnesota’s nickname as “The “Gopher State” originates from a political cartoon by R.O. Sweeney of St. Paul. The cartoon ridiculed the passage of a bill by the new Minnesota Legislature that called for issuing $5 million in bonds to assist in the construction of railroads. The intent was that the […]
1816-01-12
On this date in 1816, Willis A. Gorman is born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. Gorman was appointed Minnesota Territory’s second governor by President Franklin Pierce and served from 1853-1857. During his tenure as Governor of Minnesota, Gorman contrived an unsuccessful plan to move the capital of Minnesota Territory from St. Paul to St. Peter where he […]
