Eugene McLanahan Wilson
Encyclopedia
Eugene McLanahan Wilson (December 25, 1833 – April 10, 1890) (son of Edgar Campbell Wilson, grandson of Thomas Wilson of Virginia
, and great-grandson of Isaac Griffin
), was a Representative
from Minnesota
.
, Monongalia County
, Virginia (now West Virginia
), December 25, 1833. He attended the common schools and Morgantown Academy and graduated from Jefferson College
, Canonsburg, PA, in 1852. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1855 and commenced practice in Winona, Minnesota
. He served as United States Attorney
for the District of Minnesota
with residence in Minneapolis from 1857 to 1861, and thereafter continued the practice of law in Minneapolis.
Wilson served in the Union Army
during the Civil War
as captain of Company A, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers; elected as a Democrat
to the Forty-first Congress
(March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1870. He resumed the practice of law, and was elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1872 and 1874. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress
. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1876, and was a member of the Minnesota Senate
in 1878 and 1879. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Minnesota
in 1888.
Wilson remained active in social as well as political affairs in Minnesota. He was twice president of the Minneapolis Club
, in 1886 and 1890.
Wilson died while on a visit to regain his health in Nassau
, New Providence Island, British West Indies
, April 10, 1890. He was interred in Lakewood Cemetery
, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and great-grandson of Isaac Griffin
Isaac Griffin
Isaac Griffin was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Isaac Griffin was born in Kent County, Delaware. He moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits...
), was a Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Biography
Wilson was born in MorgantownMorgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
, Monongalia County
Monongalia County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile . There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile...
, Virginia (now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
), December 25, 1833. He attended the common schools and Morgantown Academy and graduated from Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
, Canonsburg, PA, in 1852. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1855 and commenced practice in Winona, Minnesota
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
. He served as United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of Minnesota
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota. Its two primary courthouses are in Minneapolis and Saint Paul...
with residence in Minneapolis from 1857 to 1861, and thereafter continued the practice of law in Minneapolis.
Wilson served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as captain of Company A, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers; elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Forty-first Congress
41st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President : Schuyler Colfax* President pro tempore: Henry B. Anthony - House of Representatives :* Speaker: James G. Blaine -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
(March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1870. He resumed the practice of law, and was elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1872 and 1874. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1876, and was a member of the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
in 1878 and 1879. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
in 1888.
Wilson remained active in social as well as political affairs in Minnesota. He was twice president of the Minneapolis Club
Minneapolis Club
The Minneapolis Club is a private club with its clubhouse at 729 Second Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota.- History :The Minneapolis Club was founded in 1883 by leading Minnesota business and civic leaders, including John Pillsbury and Charles Loring. In its first 25 years, the club changed...
, in 1886 and 1890.
Wilson died while on a visit to regain his health in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
, New Providence Island, British West Indies
British West Indies
The British West Indies was a term used to describe the islands in and around the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire The term was sometimes used to include British Honduras and British Guiana, even though these territories are not geographically part of the Caribbean...
, April 10, 1890. He was interred in Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area...
, Minneapolis, Minnesota.