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George C. Perkins | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Perkinsc. 1905–1915 | |
| United States Senator fromCalifornia | |
| In office July 26, 1893 – March 3, 1915 | |
| Appointed by | Henry Markham |
| Preceded by | Leland Stanford |
| Succeeded by | James D. Phelan |
| 14th Governor of California | |
| In office January 8, 1880 – January 10, 1883 | |
| Lieutenant | John Mansfield |
| Preceded by | William Irwin |
| Succeeded by | George Stoneman |
| Member of theCalifornia Senate from the24th district | |
| In office November 5, 1872 – January 8, 1873 | |
| Preceded by | David Boucher |
| Succeeded by | William C. Hendricks |
| In office December 6, 1869 – December 8, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | David Boucher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1839-08-23)August 23, 1839 Kennebunkport, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | February 26, 1923(1923-02-26) (aged 83) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ruth Parker |
| Children | 7 |
| Profession | Entrepreneur |
George Clement Perkins (August 23, 1839 – February 26, 1923) was an American businessman and politician. A member of theRepublican Party, Perkins served as the 14thgovernor of California from 1880 to 1883, and asUnited States senator from California from 1893 to 1915. He also served in theCalifornia State Senate.[1]
Perkins was born in 1839 inKennebunkport, Maine, the son of Lucinda (Fairfield) and Clement Perkins. Perkins ran away to sea at age twelve, eventually arriving inSan Francisco in 1855. After making an unsuccessful effort at staking a mining claim inButte County, Perkins worked a succession of jobs inSacramento and the mining town ofOroville, including driving a mule team and working as a store clerk. Perkins eventually bought the Oroville store he clerked at, and was soon grossing $500,000 a year.[2]
Perkins was elected to California State Senate in 1869, representing Butte County. While in serving in the Senate in Sacramento, Perkins met businessmanCharles Goodall, with whom Perkins would form what would become thePacific Coast Steamship Company.[2]
Leaving his Oroville business to be operated by his brother, Perkins moved to San Francisco in 1875 and expanded his interests in the shipping industry.[2]
Perkins sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1879 and ran a successful campaign emphasizing his purported independence from railroad interests given his interests in shipping, a competing industry.[2]
During Perkins' term as governor, formerCivil War generalJohn Mansfield served as hislieutenant governor.[3]
Perkins was appointed to the Senate byGovernor Henry Markham in 1893 following the death ofLeland Stanford.[2][4] As a Senator, Perkins was a part of the powerfulSouthern Pacific political machine, commonly called the Southern Pacific Political Bureau, headed by Southern Pacific chief counselWilliam F. Herrin.[2][5][6]
Perkins is buried alongside his wife Ruth Parker Perkins inMountain View Cemetery inOakland, California.[7]
Perkins married Ruth Parker, the daughter of his business partner Edward Parker, on May 3, 1864, inMarysville. Born in 1843 inCounty Cork, Ireland, she immigrated to California with her family at age eight. An avid reader of poetry, Ruth Perkins had several poems of her own published in magazines and newspapers. She died on February 4, 1921, in Oakland, California.[8]
Perkins and his wife Ruth had seven children.[8]Mount Perkins in California is named after him.
Media related toGeorge Clement Perkins at Wikimedia Commons
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of California 1879 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 3) from California 1893–1915 Served alongside:Stephen M. White,Thomas R. Bard,Frank P. Flint,John D. Works | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of California 1880–1883 | Succeeded by |
| Under Spain (1769–1822) |  | |
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| Under Mexico (1822–1846) | ||
| Under U.S. military (1846–1850) | ||
| U.S. state (since 1850) | ||
| Class 1 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
Chairs of theUnited States Senate Committee on Armed Services | ||
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| Military Affairs Committee (1816–1947) | | |
| Naval Affairs Committee (1816–1947) | ||
| Armed Services Committee (1947–present) | ||
| Post Office and Post Roads (1816–1947) | | |
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| Civil Service and Retrenchment (1873–1921) | ||
| Civil Service (1921–1947) | ||
| Post Office and Civil Service (1947–1977) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
