Mitchell Cary Alford
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Cary Alford was Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
.
on July 10, 1856. He enrolled at Kentucky University (now Transylvania University
), and graduated in 1877. He began studying law the following year, and earned a law degree with honors at Kentucky University in 1879. After graduation, he formed the law firm of Alford and Smith with Zachariah Frederick Smith, a college classmate.
, he was appointed master commissioner of Fayette County. At the expiration of his four year term, he was elected judge of the recorder's court in Lexington, Kentucky
. He served a two-year term and was re-elected to a second term, but resigned in order to run for a seat in the Kentucky Senate
.
Alford was elected to the Senate, representing the Lexington district. At the time of his election, he was the youngest member of the state senate. During the first session of his four-year term, he chaired the Senate Committee on Appropriations; during the second session, he chaired the Committee on Railroads.
At the 1891 Democratic
nominating convention, Alford was nominated for the office of lieutenant governor
without opposition. He was elected on a gubernatorial ticket with John Y. Brown. Following his four-year term, he was one of several Democratic candidates that sought to succeed Brown, but was unsuccessful in this endeavor due in part to his sound money stance during the party's split over Free Silver
.
in Lexington, and eventually became its treasurer.
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
.
Early life
Mitchell Alford was born in Fayette County, KentuckyFayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
on July 10, 1856. He enrolled at Kentucky University (now Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
), and graduated in 1877. He began studying law the following year, and earned a law degree with honors at Kentucky University in 1879. After graduation, he formed the law firm of Alford and Smith with Zachariah Frederick Smith, a college classmate.
Political career
Two years after being admitted to the barAdmission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
, he was appointed master commissioner of Fayette County. At the expiration of his four year term, he was elected judge of the recorder's court in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. He served a two-year term and was re-elected to a second term, but resigned in order to run for a seat in the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
.
Alford was elected to the Senate, representing the Lexington district. At the time of his election, he was the youngest member of the state senate. During the first session of his four-year term, he chaired the Senate Committee on Appropriations; during the second session, he chaired the Committee on Railroads.
At the 1891 Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominating convention, Alford was nominated for the office of lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
without opposition. He was elected on a gubernatorial ticket with John Y. Brown. Following his four-year term, he was one of several Democratic candidates that sought to succeed Brown, but was unsuccessful in this endeavor due in part to his sound money stance during the party's split over Free Silver
Free Silver
Free Silver was an important United States political policy issue in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Its advocates were in favor of an inflationary monetary policy using the "free coinage of silver" as opposed to the less inflationary Gold Standard; its supporters were called...
.
Later life
Following the end of his term as lieutenant governor, Alford served several years as the chair of the state Democratic Central Committee. He was also president of the State League of Democratic Clubs. He helped organize the First National Bank of Middlesboro, Kentucky and was chosen its first president. He was a major stockholder in the Phoenix HotelPhoenix Hotel
The Phoenix Hotel was a historical structure located on East Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It was established in the 1820s and became a prominent landmark as well as the oldest hostelry by succession in the area...
in Lexington, and eventually became its treasurer.