William Robert Taylor | |
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| 12th Governor of Wisconsin | |
| In office January 5, 1874 – January 3, 1876 | |
| Lieutenant | Charles D. Parker |
| Preceded by | Cadwallader C. Washburn |
| Succeeded by | Harrison Ludington |
| Member of theWisconsin Senate from the11th district | |
| In office January 12, 1859 – January 9, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Hiram Giles |
| Succeeded by | Samuel C. Bean |
| Member of theWisconsin State Assembly from theDane 2nd district | |
| In office January 10, 1855 – January 9, 1856 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel H. Baker |
| Succeeded by | Augustus A. Huntington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1820-07-10)July 10, 1820 |
| Died | March 17, 1909(1909-03-17) (aged 88) Burke, Wisconsin, US |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery Madison, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Teacher Farmer Lumberman Politician |
| Signature |  |
William Robert Taylor (July 10, 1820 – March 17, 1909) was an Americanpolitician and the 12thgovernor of Wisconsin from 1874 to 1876.[1]
Taylor was born inWoodbury, Connecticut. He was orphaned at age 6 when his father's ship was lost at sea; his mother had died when he was an infant. Cared for by his neighbors, he then moved with his guardians toJefferson County, New York.[2]
Taylor moved toOhio, where he taught school, studied medicine,[2] and served in the local militia. He served as president of the Dane County Agricultural Society and the State Agricultural Society after he moved, in 1848, to a farm inCottage Grove, Wisconsin.[2] There he was involved with lumbering as well as farming. He was a member of both theWisconsin State Assembly, in 1855, and theWisconsin State Senate, in 1859 and 1860. He was chairman of the city and served as a member of the Dane County Board, County Superintendent of Schools, and County Superintendent of the Poor. He was trustee of theState Hospital for the Insane in Mendota from 1860 to 1874.
Although he was a Democrat, he supported the North during theAmerican Civil War and was elected to one term as Wisconsin's governor at the head of the"Reform" or "People's Reform" Party, a short-livedcoalition ofDemocrats,reform andLiberalRepublicans, andGrangers.[2] He served as governor from January 5, 1874, to January 3, 1876, paying for his own inauguration and refusing free railroad passes and telegrams.
During his time as Governor, Taylor had the privilege of appointing the 3rd Chief Justice of theWisconsin Supreme Court,Edward George Ryan.[3]
The most noteworthy act of Taylor's governorship, however, was likely the so-called "Potter Law,"—named for Republican state senatorRobert L. D. Potter—officially,1874 Wisconsin Act 273. The law was a major priority of the Granger movement and effectively put railroad and freight prices under the control of a newstate Railroad Commission. The law was aggressively challenged in the courts by the railroad companies, with cases even reaching theSupreme Court of the United States. The law survived legal challenge, however, Governor Taylor was defeated for re-election in 1875. His successor,Harrison Ludington, signed a bill to repeal the Potter Law and replace it with a weaker law establishing a weaker regulatory body.[3]
_at_Forest_Hill_Cemetery_(Madison%2c_Wisconsin).jpg)
Impoverished, Taylor died in the Gisholt Home for the Aged inBurke, Wisconsin, on March 17, 1909 (age 88 years, 250 days).[2] He isinterred atForest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin.Taylor County, Wisconsin, is named for him.
Son of Robert and Mary (Coleman) Taylor, he was orphaned at age six when his father was lost at sea, and was cared for by neighbors. He married Catherine Hurd in 1842 and they had three children; and he married Viola Lee in 1886 and they had one son.[4]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Wisconsin 1873,1875 | Succeeded by James A. Mallory |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Wisconsin 1874 – 1876 | Succeeded by |
