Alexander Randall
Encyclopedia
Alexander Williams Randall (October 31, 1819– July 26, 1872) was a lawyer
, judge
and politician
from Wisconsin
. He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin
from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
. His father Phineas was judge of the court of common pleas there from 1837 to 1841. Afterward, the Randall family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin
, where his father died in 1853. Randall studied law in Waukesha and was admitted to the bar. He began to practice law in 1840. Soon afterwards, he became postmaster of Waukesha, where he worked until he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1855.
As Governor before the beginning of the Civil War, Randall was an ardent abolitionist and proposed Wisconsin seceding
from the Union if Abraham Lincoln did not win the Presidency.
Once war began Randall raised eighteen regiments, ten artillery batteries, and three cavalry units before leaving office, exceeding Wisconsin's quota by 3,232 men. The Union Army
created a military camp from the former state fairgrounds in Madison, Wisconsin
, named "Camp Randall
" after the governor. (The initial soldiers there lived in the animal stables until better facilities were erected. The football stadium of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, Camp Randall Stadium
, is located on the site of the camp.)
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln
appointed Randall as U.S. Minister to the Vatican
. President Johnson
appointed him to be U.S. Postmaster General 1866–1869.
Randall died July 26, 1872 in Elmira, New York
. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Section C, Lot 36.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Randall was born in Ames, New YorkAmes, New York
Ames is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 173 at the 2000 census.The Village of Ames is in the south-central part of the Town of Canajoharie and is south of the Village of Canajoharie....
. His father Phineas was judge of the court of common pleas there from 1837 to 1841. Afterward, the Randall family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, where his father died in 1853. Randall studied law in Waukesha and was admitted to the bar. He began to practice law in 1840. Soon afterwards, he became postmaster of Waukesha, where he worked until he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1855.
As Governor before the beginning of the Civil War, Randall was an ardent abolitionist and proposed Wisconsin seceding
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from the Union if Abraham Lincoln did not win the Presidency.
Once war began Randall raised eighteen regiments, ten artillery batteries, and three cavalry units before leaving office, exceeding Wisconsin's quota by 3,232 men. The Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
created a military camp from the former state fairgrounds in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, named "Camp Randall
Camp Randall
Camp Randall is a historic U.S. Army site in Madison, Wisconsin, named after Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall. It was a training facility of the Union Army during the Civil War, with more than 70,000 recruits receiving training there. Later, a hospital and a stockade for Confederate prisoners...
" after the governor. (The initial soldiers there lived in the animal stables until better facilities were erected. The football stadium of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. It has been the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team in rudimentary form since 1895, and as a complete stadium since 1917. It is located on the center-southern region of the University of Wisconsin campus. The stadium seats...
, is located on the site of the camp.)
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Randall as U.S. Minister to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. President Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
appointed him to be U.S. Postmaster General 1866–1869.
Randall died July 26, 1872 in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Section C, Lot 36.