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William Gaston (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
William Gaston was the 29th Governor of Massachusetts
in 1875-1876.
William Gaston had established a successful legal practice in the City of Roxbury, Massachusetts
before entering politics. He served as a Representative in the State Legislature (1853–1854), as Roxbury's City Solicitor (1856–60), and as its Mayor (1861 and 1862). He resumed his private practice of law until 1868, when he served in the Massachusetts Senate for a year.
The City of Boston annexed Roxbury in 1868, and in 1871, Gaston was elected Mayor of Boston. Running for Governor as a Democrat, Gaston defeated incumbent Thomas Talbot
who had supported the continuance of statewide prohibition by his veto. Gaston promoted a law repealing the Commonwealth's prohibition law, leaving such restrictions to the determination of localities. Governor Gaston was defeated in his reelection bid by Alexander Rice
. Gaston returned to his extremely successful legal practice, gaining renown as a trial attorney. He served as President of the Boston Bar Association
from 1880 to 1881.
Gaston and his wife Louisa Augusta (Beecher) were the parents of William Alexander Gaston (1859–1927), who ran for governor of Massachusetts in 1902 and 1903 but lost.
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in 1875-1876.
William Gaston had established a successful legal practice in the City of Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
before entering politics. He served as a Representative in the State Legislature (1853–1854), as Roxbury's City Solicitor (1856–60), and as its Mayor (1861 and 1862). He resumed his private practice of law until 1868, when he served in the Massachusetts Senate for a year.
The City of Boston annexed Roxbury in 1868, and in 1871, Gaston was elected Mayor of Boston. Running for Governor as a Democrat, Gaston defeated incumbent Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot (Massachusetts)
Thomas Talbot was the 31st Governor of Massachusetts. He was born in Cambridge, New York, and grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts....
who had supported the continuance of statewide prohibition by his veto. Gaston promoted a law repealing the Commonwealth's prohibition law, leaving such restrictions to the determination of localities. Governor Gaston was defeated in his reelection bid by Alexander Rice
Alexander H. Rice
Alexander Hamilton Rice was Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1856–1857, a U.S. Congressman during the American Civil War, and the 30th Governor of Massachusetts from 1876–78.-Biography:...
. Gaston returned to his extremely successful legal practice, gaining renown as a trial attorney. He served as President of the Boston Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
The Boston Bar Association, which also goes by the acronym BBA, is a volunteer non-governmental organization in Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
from 1880 to 1881.
Gaston and his wife Louisa Augusta (Beecher) were the parents of William Alexander Gaston (1859–1927), who ran for governor of Massachusetts in 1902 and 1903 but lost.