James Wright Gordon
Encyclopedia
James Wright Gordon usually referred to as J. Wright Gordon, was a Whig politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Gordon was born in Plainfield, Connecticut
and studied law.
, and also lived for a time in Battle Creek
. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate (6th district) in 1839 and served as the second Lieutenant Governor
from 1840 to 1841.
Gordon became the third Governor of Michigan
ex officio, when William Woodbridge
resigned on February 23, 1841, to become a U.S. Senator. He completed the remainder of Woodbridge's term, until January 3, 1842.
He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Representative from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
in 1846 and 1847, being defeated by John Smith Chipman
.
, Brazil
from 1850 to 1853 and died at the age of 44, while in office, when he accidentally fell to his death from a second-story balcony.
J. Wright Gordon is interred in Brazil.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Gordon was born in Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield , Moosup , Wauregan , and Central Village . Each village has their own respective United States Post Office and fire department...
and studied law.
Life and politics in Michigan
He later moved to Michigan, establishing a practice in MarshallMarshall, Michigan
Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
, and also lived for a time in Battle Creek
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate (6th district) in 1839 and served as the second Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
from 1840 to 1841.
Gordon became the third Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
ex officio, when William Woodbridge
William Woodbridge
William Woodbridge was a U.S. statesman in the states of Ohio and Michigan and in the Michigan Territory prior to statehood...
resigned on February 23, 1841, to become a U.S. Senator. He completed the remainder of Woodbridge's term, until January 3, 1842.
He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Representative from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
in 1846 and 1847, being defeated by John Smith Chipman
John Smith Chipman
John Smith Chipman was a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Chipman was born in Shoreham in Addison County, Vermont, where attended the rural schools and graduated from Middlebury College in 1823...
.
Death in Brazil
Gordon was U.S. Consul in PernambucoPernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
from 1850 to 1853 and died at the age of 44, while in office, when he accidentally fell to his death from a second-story balcony.
J. Wright Gordon is interred in Brazil.