 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
William Woodbridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromMichigan | |
| In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1847 | |
| Preceded by | John Norvell |
| Succeeded by | Alpheus Felch |
| 2nd Governor of Michigan | |
| In office January 7, 1840 – February 23, 1841 | |
| Lieutenant | J. Wright Gordon |
| Preceded by | Stevens T. Mason |
| Succeeded by | J. Wright Gordon |
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan Territory'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1819 – August 9, 1820 | |
| Preceded by | none |
| Succeeded by | Solomon Sibley |
| 3rd Secretary of Michigan Territory | |
| In office October 15, 1814 – January 15, 1828 | |
| President | James Madison |
| Preceded by | Reuben Atwater |
| Succeeded by | James Witherell |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives fromWashington andAthens counties | |
| In office 1808–1809 Serving with Leonard Jewett | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Simeon Pool William R. Putnam |
| Member of theOhio Senate fromWashington andAthens counties | |
| In office 1809–1814 | |
| Preceded by | Leonard Jewett |
| Succeeded by | William R. Putnam |
| Member of theMichigan Senate from the1st district | |
| In office 1838–1839 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1780-08-20)August 20, 1780 Norwich,Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 1861(1861-10-20) (aged 81) |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse | Juliana Trumbull |
| Signature | .png) |
William Woodbridge (August 20, 1780 – October 20, 1861) was a U.S.statesman in the states ofOhio andMichigan and in theMichigan Territory prior to statehood. He served as the secondgovernor of Michigan and aUnited States senator from Michigan.
Woodbridge was born inNorwich, Connecticut. Through an entirely paternal line he was a direct descendant of English PuritanJohn Woodbridge. As a child moved with his family toMarietta, Ohio, in about 1790. He began the study of law in Marietta and developed a close friendship withLewis Cass. He returned toConnecticut to complete his law studies, and after returning to Ohio, was admitted to the Ohiobar in 1806 where he began a practice inMarietta, Ohio. In June 1806, he married Juliana Trumbull, the daughter ofJohn Trumbull.
He was a member of theOhio House of Representatives in 1807, and was elected to theOhio Senate in 1808, serving from 1809 to 1814. He was also the prosecuting attorney for New London (nowWashington County, Ohio) from 1808 to 1814.
In 1814, Woodbridge's old friendLewis Cass, who had become Governor of theMichigan Territory, encouraged him to accept appointments as Secretary of the Territory and as the collector of customs at the Port of Detroit. On October 15, 1814, Woodbridge reluctantly accepted the appointments from PresidentJames Madison and moved toDetroit, Michigan. During the frequent absences of Cass, Woodbridge served as acting governor. In 1817, Woodbridge became a trustee of theUniversity of Michigan.
Under the rules of territorial government, the territory did not have representation in the U.S. Congress. Woodbridge influenced Congress to pass legislation authorizing the selection of a non-voting delegate to Congress. Woodbridge became the Michigan Territory's first delegate, serving in the16th Congress from March 4, 1819, to his resignation on August 9, 1820, due to illness in his family.Solomon Sibley succeeded Woodbridge as delegate. He remained the Territorial Secretary while delegate.
As a delegate, Woodbridge worked for the passage of legislation that recognized old French land titles in the territory according to the terms of the previously signed treaties. He also secured approval for the construction of government roads from theGreat Miami River to Detroit, and from Detroit to Chicago. He was also a strong advocate for Michigan's claim to theToledo Strip, which was disputed with the state of Ohio.
In 1828, he was appointed one of three Territorial Supreme Court justice by PresidentJohn Quincy Adams, succeedingJames Witherell and serving in this capacity until 1832 when his term expired and PresidentAndrew Jackson chose a replacement who was not from theWhig Party as Woodbridge was.
Woodbridge was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1835 and a member of theMichigan State Senate from 1838 to 1839, where he represented the1st district. He was elected as the secondGovernor of Michigan in 1840, leading the Whig Party to sweeping statewide victories under the slogan "Woodbridge and reform" (along withWilliam Henry Harrison's national campaign). He resigned as governor on February 23, 1841, to take a seat in theUnited States Senate and was succeeded by hisLieutenant Governor,J. Wright Gordon.
Woodbridge was elected to the Senate by theMichigan Legislature and served from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1847. He was only one of two Whig senators who represented Michigan, alongsideAugustus S. Porter whom he served with for most of his term. Woodbridge served as chairman of theCommittee on Public Lands in the28th Congress from 1843 to 1844, and of theCommittee on Patents and the Patent Office in the29th Congress from 1845 to 1846. He did not seek reelection.
After leaving the Senate, he retired from public life and devoted his time to horticulture. He died in Detroit and is interred there inElmwood Cemetery.
The following bear his name:
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Whig nominee forGovernor of Michigan 1839 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of Michigan Territory October 15, 1814 – January 15, 1828 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Michigan 1840–1841 | Succeeded by |
| Ohio House of Representatives | ||
| New district | Representative fromWashington andAthens Counties 1808–1809 Served alongside:Leonard Jewett | Succeeded by Simeon Pool William R. Putnam |
| Ohio Senate | ||
| Preceded by Leonard Jewett | Senator fromWashington andAthens Counties 1809–1814 | Succeeded by William R. Putnam |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by New seat | Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan Territory March 4, 1819 – August 9, 1820 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Michigan 1841–1847 Served alongside:Augustus S. Porter,Lewis Cass | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| Public Lands (1816–1921) | | |
|---|---|---|
| Public Lands and Surveys (1921–1947) | ||
| Interior and Insular Affairs (1947–1977) | ||
| Energy and Natural Resources (1977–) | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
