George W. Baxter
Encyclopedia
George White Baxter was an American
politician who served as territorial governor of Wyoming
from November 11, 1886 – December 20, 1886.
on January 7, 1855. When he was two years old, Baxter's family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee
, where he lived much of his life.
Baxter attended university in Knoxville but later continued his education at the United States Military Academy
at West Point. He left Knoxville and enrolled at West Point in 1873 and graduated in 1877. After graduating he was commissioned a second lieutenant
and he served in the Third United States Cavalry for three years. Baxter arrived in Wyoming in 1881 after leaving the Army.
of the then-U.S. territory of Wyoming by President Grover Cleveland
. He replaced Francis E. Warren
, who faced scrutiny for his business dealings. Baxter's time as governor was short-lived, however; he served in the position until only December 20, 1886. He resigned the office and was replaced, temporarily by the Secretary of the Territory, Elliot S.N. Morgan
.
Baxter returned to politics in 1889, serving as a delegate to the Wyoming Constitutional Convention. Later, in 1890, he made an unsuccessful run for governor of Wyoming. He returned to Knoxville in 1892 and entered private business.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served as territorial governor of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
from November 11, 1886 – December 20, 1886.
Early years
Baxter was born in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
on January 7, 1855. When he was two years old, Baxter's family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, where he lived much of his life.
Baxter attended university in Knoxville but later continued his education at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point. He left Knoxville and enrolled at West Point in 1873 and graduated in 1877. After graduating he was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and he served in the Third United States Cavalry for three years. Baxter arrived in Wyoming in 1881 after leaving the Army.
Political career
On November 11, 1886 Baxter was appointed the governorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the then-U.S. territory of Wyoming by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. He replaced Francis E. Warren
Francis E. Warren
Francis Emroy Warren was an American politician of the Republican Party best known for his years in the United States Senate representing Wyoming.-Early life and military service:...
, who faced scrutiny for his business dealings. Baxter's time as governor was short-lived, however; he served in the position until only December 20, 1886. He resigned the office and was replaced, temporarily by the Secretary of the Territory, Elliot S.N. Morgan
Elliot S.N. Morgan
Elliot S.N. Morgan was the only person to serve as Acting Governor of the U.S. Wyoming Territory before the region became an official U.S. state. His is the uncle of historian William J. Morgan.-Early life:...
.
Baxter returned to politics in 1889, serving as a delegate to the Wyoming Constitutional Convention. Later, in 1890, he made an unsuccessful run for governor of Wyoming. He returned to Knoxville in 1892 and entered private business.
Further reading
- Jackson, W. Turrentine. "The Governorship of Wyoming, 1885-1889: A Study in Territorial Politics," (JSTORJSTORJSTOR is an online system for archiving academic journals, founded in 1995. It provides its member institutions full-text searches of digitized back issues of several hundred well-known journals, dating back to 1665 in the case of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society...
), The Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 13, No. 1, March 1944, pp. 1–11. Accessed 3 March 2008.