William G. Donnan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theIowa Senate | |
| In office 1868–1870 | |
| In office 1884–1886 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | William B. Allison |
| Succeeded by | Lucien Lester Ainsworth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William G. Donnan (1834-06-30)June 30, 1834 Charlton, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 4, 1908(1908-12-04) (aged 74) Independence, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Union College |
| Profession | Politician,Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank |  Private |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William G. Donnan (June 30, 1834 – December 4, 1908) was an American lawyer,Civil War officer, politician who served as a two-termRepublicanU.S. Representative fromIowa's 3rd congressional district.
Born in West Charlton, a hamlet inSaratoga County, New York, Donnan attended the district schools and Cambridge Academy. He graduated fromUnion College inSchenectady, New York, in 1856.
He moved toIndependence, Iowa, in 1856. After studying law, he wasadmitted to the bar in 1856, and commenced practice at Independence in 1857. From 1857 to 1862, he was the treasurer and recorder ofBuchanan County, Iowa.
In 1862, he entered theUnion Army as a private in Company H,27th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to the grade of first lieutenant and brevetted captain and major. He was adjutant on the staff of Gen.James Isham Gilbert. His hundred twenty-eight letters written to his wife Mary during the War are a valuable historical resource.
Following the war, he was elected to theIowa Senate, initially serving in 1868 and 1870. He was largely instrumental in securing the establishment of the Mental Health Institute (formerly called the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane) at Independence.[1]
In 1870, incumbent Republican Third District CongressmanWilliam B. Allison focused on winning election to theU.S. Senate, and thus declined to seek re-election to his House seat. Donnan was elected as a Republican to succeed him, serving in the42nd United States Congress. Donnan was re-elected two years later (in 1872), to serve in theForty-third Congress. He declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1874.
After his term ended, he resumed the practice of law at Independence, and remained active in politics. He was again elected to the Iowa Senate, serving from 1884 to 1886. He served as delegate-at-large to the1884 Republican National Convention, and as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee from 1884 to 1886.
He later became president of the First National Bank of Independence.[2]
He died in Independence, on December 4, 1908. He was interred in Oakwood Cemetery. The now-disincorporated town ofDonnan, Iowa, inFayette County was named for him.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 3rd congressional district 1871–1875 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
