Eugene M. Wilson | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Ignatius L. Donnelly |
| Succeeded by | John T. Averill |
| 5th Mayor of Minneapolis | |
| In office April 9, 1872 – April 8, 1873 | |
| Preceded by | Eli B. Ames |
| Succeeded by | George A. Brackett |
| 7th Mayor of Minneapolis | |
| In office April 14, 1874 – April 13, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | George A. Brackett |
| Succeeded by | Orlando C. Merriman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eugene McLanahan Wilson (1833-12-25)December 25, 1833 Morgantown, Virginia, U.S.(nowWest Virginia) |
| Died | April 10, 1890(1890-04-10) (aged 56) Nassau, British West Indies(nowThe Bahamas) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Thomas Wilson(grandfather) |
Eugene McLanahan Wilson (December 25, 1833 – April 10, 1890) was an Americanlawyer andDemocraticpolitician who served in various legal and political offices inMinnesota including as amember of Congress and as the fifth and seventhmayor of Minneapolis.
Wilson was born inMorgantown,Monongalia County,Virginia (nowWest Virginia) on December 25, 1833. His fatherEdgar C. Wilson had been a lawyer and US representative from Virginia (as had his grandfatherThomas Wilson). On his mother's side he was the great-grandson ofIsaac Griffin, also a longtime US Representative from Pennsylvania. He attended school in Morgantown and graduated fromJefferson College in 1852. He studied law, wasadmitted to the bar in 1855 and relocated to Minnesota shortly thereafter.[1]
Wilson worked inWinona, Minnesota for several years in a law practice with former classmateWilliam B. Mitchell. In 1857 he was namedUnited States Attorney for theDistrict of Minnesota and relocated to Minneapolis. During theCivil War Wilson served in theUnion Army ascaptain of Company A in the1st Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was primarily involved with theDakota War of 1862.[1]
After the war, Wilson was elected to theForty-first Congress (1869 – 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.
In 1873, Wilson was involved in the abduction ofLord Gordon Gordon at the behest ofJay Gould from Canada. He was arrested together with Gould,Loren Fletcher andJohn Gilfillan. They were released on bail after diplomatic pressure by Minnesota GovernorHorace Austin.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1874 to theForty-fourth Congress. He served as a delegate to theDemocratic National Convention in 1876 and was a member of theMinnesota Senate in 1878 and 1879. He twice ran forGovernor of Minnesota, first in 1879, in which he lost the Democratic primary.[2] The second time was in 1888. He would win the Democratic nomination, but would lose the election.[1][3][4]
Wilson remained active in social as well as political affairs in Minnesota. He was twice president of theMinneapolis Club, in 1886 and 1890.[5]
Wilson married Elizabeth Kimball, daughter of Colonel William M. Kimball, of Minneapolis on October 6, 1865. Together, they had four children.[1]
Wilson died from malaria while on a visit to regain his health inNassau,British West Indies (nowThe Bahamas) on April 10, 1890.[6] He was buried inLakewood Cemetery.[7]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Minnesota 1888 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative forMinnesota's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Minneapolis 1872 – 1873 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Minneapolis 1874 – 1875 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
