Tim N. Machin
Encyclopedia
Timothy N. Machin was the tenth Lieutenant Governor of California
from 1863 to 1867. He previously served in the California State Assembly
, representing Tuolumne
and Mono
counties for two terms in 1862 and 1863.
Machin studied law at John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School
in Ballston Spa, New York
, along with Niles Searls
and Chancellor Hartson. He moved west and settled near Mono Lake
in California
.
Practicing law in Monoville
he was elected Mono County
's choice for the California State Assembly
as a Member of the California's 12th State Assembly district
, 1862–63;
In 1863, he was chosen Speaker of the Assembly. Staunchly pro-Union in the Civil War, he made many influential contacts in the Republican Party and its successor, the Union Democrat
parties. He was noted for his integrity and straight dealings. In 1863, he received the nomination for Lieutenant Governor of California
running with Frederick Low on the Union Democrat ticket. He ran against E.W. McKinstrey, beating him by 21,120 votes. As Lieutenant Governor, he was selected to prosecute the impeachment proceedings instituted against a popular jurist, Judge Hardy. During his tenure he was appointed the Superintendent of San Quentin State Prison
. He remained Lt. Governor through 1867.
After his retirement from the Lieutenant Governorship, he made his home in the Clinton Park section of Oakland
at 1276 Sixth Avenue.
Machin was the son of Thomas Machin Jr., a Brigadier General
of the militia and veteran of the War of 1812
; and grandson of Captain Thomas Machin the architect of the great West Point Chain
which was emplaced in 1778 to prevent the British from ascending the Hudson River.
Machin married Nancy M. Knight on April 15, 1864.
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
from 1863 to 1867. He previously served in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, representing Tuolumne
Tuolumne County, California
Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census...
and Mono
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
counties for two terms in 1862 and 1863.
Machin studied law at John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School
State and National Law School
State and National Law School was an early practical training law school founded in 1849 by John W. Fowler in Ballston Spa, New York located in Saratoga County. It was also known as New York State and National Law School, Ballston Law School, and Fowler's State and National Law School. In 1853 the...
in Ballston Spa, New York
Ballston Spa, New York
Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County. The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of two...
, along with Niles Searls
Niles Searls
Niles Searls was an attorney, politician, and the Chief Justice of California.-Early years:Searls, whose last name is also sometimes spelled as Searles, was born in Coeymans, New York. His father, Abraham Searls , of English descent, worked as a farmer. His mother, Lydia Niles, was of Scottish...
and Chancellor Hartson. He moved west and settled near Mono Lake
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Practicing law in Monoville
Monoville, California
Monoville is a former settlement in Mono County, California. It was located about south-southeast of Bridgeport.In 1859, gold was discovered at Monoville. A conduit was constructed to divert water from Virginia Creek to aid hydraulic mining operations...
he was elected Mono County
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
's choice for the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
as a Member of the California's 12th State Assembly district
California's 12th State Assembly district
California's 12th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Fiona Ma of San Francisco.-District profile:...
, 1862–63;
In 1863, he was chosen Speaker of the Assembly. Staunchly pro-Union in the Civil War, he made many influential contacts in the Republican Party and its successor, the Union Democrat
Unionist Party (United States)
The Union Party was a fusion political party conceived by Republicans in 1861 to combine people of all political affiliations into a single movement committed to the preservation of the Union and to war. Republicans wanted to project an image of wartime nonpartisanship and they also expected to...
parties. He was noted for his integrity and straight dealings. In 1863, he received the nomination for Lieutenant Governor of California
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
running with Frederick Low on the Union Democrat ticket. He ran against E.W. McKinstrey, beating him by 21,120 votes. As Lieutenant Governor, he was selected to prosecute the impeachment proceedings instituted against a popular jurist, Judge Hardy. During his tenure he was appointed the Superintendent of San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
. He remained Lt. Governor through 1867.
After his retirement from the Lieutenant Governorship, he made his home in the Clinton Park section of Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
at 1276 Sixth Avenue.
Machin was the son of Thomas Machin Jr., a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the militia and veteran of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
; and grandson of Captain Thomas Machin the architect of the great West Point Chain
Hudson River Chain
The Hudson River Chain may refer to any of several chains used as a blockade across the Hudson River intended to prevent British naval vessels from proceeding up the river during the American Revolutionary War.-The Great Chain :...
which was emplaced in 1778 to prevent the British from ascending the Hudson River.
Machin married Nancy M. Knight on April 15, 1864.