Gordon E. Cole | |
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 | |
| 2nd Minnesota Attorney General | |
| In office 1860–1866 | |
| Governor | Alexander Ramsey Henry A. Swift Stephen Miller |
| Preceded by | Charles H. Berry |
| Succeeded by | William J. Colvill |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1882 | |
| Member of theMinnesota Senate from the8th district | |
| In office January 1866 – January 7, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Levi Nutting |
| Succeeded by | Oscar F. Perkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1833-06-18)June 18, 1833 |
| Died | October 4, 1890(1890-10-04) (aged 57) |
| Party | Republican |
Gordon Earl Cole (June 18, 1833 – October 4, 1890) was a lawyer andRepublican politician who served asMinnesota Attorney General from 1860 to 1866.
Cole was born inCheshire, Massachusetts in 1833. He attendedSuffield Academy and later studied law at several different schools and law offices in New York including underGeorge N. Briggs. He graduated fromHarvard Law School in 1854 and opened a law practice in his hometown of Cheshire shortly thereafter.
In 1855, he married Stella C. Whipple. The two relocated toMinnesota Territory a year later, settling inFaribault, Minnesota. Cole pursued his legal career, living in Faribault and occasionally traveling toMinneapolis andSt. Paul for trials.[1] In Fairbault, he had a law practice withJohn Higley Case. The partnership later dissolved.[2] He developed a specialty working with cases related to railroads and government land grants.[1]
Cole was also involved in the state's Republican politics. He served three terms as Minnesota Attorney General from 1860 to 1866 and two terms in the Minnesota State Legislature, winning election to theMinnesota Senate in 1864 and to theMinnesota House of Representatives in 1882. He also served on a variety of state agencies and boards and as mayor of Faribault for a single term. In 1879, he was a primary contender for the Republican nomination for governor.[3] In 1884, he ran unsuccessfully againstDwight M. Sabin forUnited States Senate.[1][4]
Cole became ill in 1890 and traveled to Europe with his daughter to seek medical treatment in Germany. He died in London while en route on October 4, 1890.[5]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minnesota Attorney General 1860–1866 | Succeeded by |
