William P. Dillingham
Encyclopedia
William Paul Dillingham (December 12, 1843 July 12, 1923) was an American Republican politician from the state of Vermont
.
, William P. Dillingham was born on December 12, 1843, in Waterbury, Vermont
, where he later attended the public schools. Upon completing that system, he studied at Newbury Seminary and Kimball Union Academy
in Meriden, New Hampshire
. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867; he began to practice in his hometown not long after.
, where he served for four years from 1872 to 1876. He served concurrently as secretary of civil and military affairs for the last two years of his tenure in Washington County. In 1876, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
and then to the Vermont Senate
in 1878 and 1880; he returned to the Vermont House in 1884. After his service as a legislator, Dillingham was appointed Vermont's tax commissioner for 1882-1888. In 1888, he was elected to one two-year term as the 42nd Governor of Vermont.
From 1890 to 1900, he served in various capacities, especially in educational institutions around the state. In 1900, Dillingham was elected to his first federal office, to fill the United States Senate
seat of the late Justin Smith Morrill
. Dillingham was reelected in 1903, 1909, 1914 and 1920, and served until his death on July 12, 1923, in Montpelier, Vermont
.
Dillingham achieved prominence as the leading Progressive
-era legislative spokesperson for restricting immigration from certain countries. His way of thinking, holding to rural ways of life, property ownership and literacy, combined with his fear that immigration threatened to transform the United States into a non-Protestant nation of cities full of disease, poverty, illiteracy and crime. From 1907 to 1911, Dillingham chaired (concurrently with his Senate duties) the United States Immigration Commission
, also called the Dillingham Commission, which concluded that immigration from southern and eastern Europe posed a serious threat to American society and culture and should be greatly reduced in the future.
In 1903, Dillingham chaired a Senate subcommittee that investigated conditions in Alaska following the 1898 gold rush. During their trip, a new courthouse established near the Nushagak River
village of Kanakanak was named in honor of the chairman and the surrounding community later adopted the name Dillingham, Alaska
. Ironically, while the subcommittee traveled extensively throughout Alaska, Dillingham never set foot in the Bristol Bay
salmon fishing community that still bears his name.
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Early life
The son of Vermont Governor Paul DillinghamPaul Dillingham
Paul Dillingham, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from Vermont, father of William Paul Dillingham.Born in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, Dillingham moved with his father to Waterbury, Vermont, in 1805....
, William P. Dillingham was born on December 12, 1843, in Waterbury, Vermont
Waterbury, Vermont
Waterbury is a town in Washington County in central Vermont, in the United States. It is also the name of a village within that town. The population was 4,915 at the 2000 census.-Economy:-Industry:...
, where he later attended the public schools. Upon completing that system, he studied at Newbury Seminary and Kimball Union Academy
Kimball Union Academy
Kimball Union Academy is a private boarding school located in New Hampshire. Founded in 1813, it is the 22nd oldest boarding school in the United States...
in Meriden, New Hampshire
Meriden, New Hampshire
Meriden is a village in the eastern part of the town of Plainfield in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. Meriden is home to Kimball Union Academy, a private boarding school....
. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867; he began to practice in his hometown not long after.
Public service
Dillingham's first post in public office was that of prosecuting attorney of Washington County, VermontWashington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
, where he served for four years from 1872 to 1876. He served concurrently as secretary of civil and military affairs for the last two years of his tenure in Washington County. In 1876, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
and then to the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
in 1878 and 1880; he returned to the Vermont House in 1884. After his service as a legislator, Dillingham was appointed Vermont's tax commissioner for 1882-1888. In 1888, he was elected to one two-year term as the 42nd Governor of Vermont.
From 1890 to 1900, he served in various capacities, especially in educational institutions around the state. In 1900, Dillingham was elected to his first federal office, to fill the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat of the late Justin Smith Morrill
Justin Smith Morrill
Justin Smith Morrill was a Representative and a Senator from Vermont, most widely remembered today for the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act that established federal funding for establishing many of the United States' public colleges and universities...
. Dillingham was reelected in 1903, 1909, 1914 and 1920, and served until his death on July 12, 1923, in Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
.
Dillingham achieved prominence as the leading Progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
-era legislative spokesperson for restricting immigration from certain countries. His way of thinking, holding to rural ways of life, property ownership and literacy, combined with his fear that immigration threatened to transform the United States into a non-Protestant nation of cities full of disease, poverty, illiteracy and crime. From 1907 to 1911, Dillingham chaired (concurrently with his Senate duties) the United States Immigration Commission
Dillingham Commission
The United States Immigration Commission was a special congressional committee formed in February 1907 by the United States Congress, which was then under intense pressure from various nativist groups, to study the origins and consequences of recent immigration to the United States...
, also called the Dillingham Commission, which concluded that immigration from southern and eastern Europe posed a serious threat to American society and culture and should be greatly reduced in the future.
In 1903, Dillingham chaired a Senate subcommittee that investigated conditions in Alaska following the 1898 gold rush. During their trip, a new courthouse established near the Nushagak River
Nushagak River
The Nushagak River is a river in southwest Alaska, USA. It begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest to Nushagak Bay, an inlet of Bristol Bay, east of Dillingham, Alaska.The Mulchatna River is a major tributary...
village of Kanakanak was named in honor of the chairman and the surrounding community later adopted the name Dillingham, Alaska
Dillingham, Alaska
- Natural resources :Dillingham was once known as the Pacific salmon capital of the world and commercial fishing remains an important part of the local economy...
. Ironically, while the subcommittee traveled extensively throughout Alaska, Dillingham never set foot in the Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay
Bristol Bay is the eastern-most arm of the Bering Sea, at 57° to 59° North 157° to 162° West in Southwest Alaska. Bristol Bay is 400 km long and 290 km, wide at its mouth...
salmon fishing community that still bears his name.
Private life
Dillingham lived at 7 West Street, Montpelier, Vermont while serving in the US Senate and until the end of his life. His former home was owned by Vermont College for more than 50 years, and served as a dormitory and as office space. It is now a private residence again. Upon his death, he was buried in the Village Cemetery in his hometown of Waterbury, VermontWaterbury, Vermont
Waterbury is a town in Washington County in central Vermont, in the United States. It is also the name of a village within that town. The population was 4,915 at the 2000 census.-Economy:-Industry:...
.
External links
- Dillingham Commission page including a digitized version of the complete set of Dilligham Commission reports. From the Immigration to the United States from 1789 to 1930 collection, Harvard University Library Open Collections Program