William L. Greenly
Encyclopedia
William L. Greenly was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
serving as the sixth Governor of Michigan.
. He graduated from Union College
of Schenectady, New York
in 1831, then studied law with Stower & Gridley, in Hamilton and was admitted to the bar
at Albany, New York
in 1834.
in October 1836. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate from the 2nd district, 1839 to 1840 and later from the 3rd district, 1842 to 1843.
Greenly served as the fifth Lieutenant Governor
from 1846 to 1847 and became Governor on March 4, 1847 after the resignation of Alpheus Felch
to take a seat in the U.S. Senate
. He completed Felch's term through January 3, 1848. Greenly served through much of the Mexican-American War, where troops from Michigan were sent such as Company K, 3d Dragoons, as well as A, E, and G of the U. S. Infantry.
for twelve years, and was elected mayor of Adrian, Michigan
in 1858 serving only one year. He died at the age of seventy and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
serving as the sixth Governor of Michigan.
Early life in New York
Greenly was born in Hamilton, New YorkHamilton (village), New York
The Village of Hamilton is a village located within the town of Hamilton in Madison County, New York, USA.-Geography and climate:The village, located at , lies in the Chenango Valley, just south of the headwaters of the Chenango River. The village is approximately southeast of Syracuse and ...
. He graduated from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
of Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
in 1831, then studied law with Stower & Gridley, in Hamilton and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
in 1834.
Politics in Michigan
He moved to Adrian, MichiganAdrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
in October 1836. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate from the 2nd district, 1839 to 1840 and later from the 3rd district, 1842 to 1843.
Greenly served as the fifth Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
from 1846 to 1847 and became Governor on March 4, 1847 after the resignation of Alpheus Felch
Alpheus Felch
Alpheus Felch was the fifth Governor of Michigan and U.S. Senator from Michigan.-Early life:Felch was born in Limerick, Maine. He was left an orphan at the age of three and lived with his grandfather Abijah Felch, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War...
to take a seat in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He completed Felch's term through January 3, 1848. Greenly served through much of the Mexican-American War, where troops from Michigan were sent such as Company K, 3d Dragoons, as well as A, E, and G of the U. S. Infantry.
Family
Governor Greenly was married three times:- Sarah A. Dascomb, in Hamilton, December 1834
- Elizabeth W. Hubbard in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, MassachusettsThe city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, June 11, 1840, they had one son, Marshal - Maria Hart in Adrian, October 25, 1859
Retirement and death
After his brief time a Governor, he served as Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for twelve years, and was elected mayor of Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
in 1858 serving only one year. He died at the age of seventy and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.