Fred M. Warner
Encyclopedia
Fred Maltby Warner was an American
politician
. He served as the 26th Governor
of Michigan
from 1905 to 1911.
, England
, Warner spent most of his life in Michigan. His father, P. Dean Warner, served in both chambers of the state congress during periods from 1852 to 1870.
Warner was orphaned at three months of age and adopted by a family in Farmington
. He attended the common schools there and later attended the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University
). He worked at his father’s store and later, as a Farmington businessman and agriculturist, he established thirteen cheese
factories.
just as his father did. From 1901 until 1904 he served as the Michigan Secretary of State
under Aaron T. Bliss
.
In 1904, Warner was elected Governor of Michigan
and served three terms, 1905-1910. He was known as a progressive
governor advocating such policies as regulation
of railroad and insurance, conservation
, child labor laws and woman's suffrage. Also during his six years in office, a factory inspection bill was authorized, a direct primary election law was sanctioned and there was a promotion of highway construction.
, Shriners
, Elks
, Knights of Pythias
, and Maccabees
. In 1920, he began serving as a Republican National Committee
man until his death three years later. He died at the age of fifty-eight of kidney failure and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Farmington, Michigan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as the 26th Governor
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:...
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"....
from 1905 to 1911.
Birth in England and early life in Michigan
Born in Hickling, NottinghamshireHickling, Nottinghamshire
Hickling is a village near Melton Mowbray but is in and on the southermost border of Nottinghamshire. It is within the boundaries of Rushcliffe Borough Council, on the Grantham Canal and close to the Vale of Belvoir. The population numbers around 550 people.The disused Grantham Canal passes through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Warner spent most of his life in Michigan. His father, P. Dean Warner, served in both chambers of the state congress during periods from 1852 to 1870.
Warner was orphaned at three months of age and adopted by a family in Farmington
Farmington, Michigan
Farmington is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit and is part of the Metro Detroit area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,372. It is fully surrounded by Farmington Hills, except for a small portion bordered by Livonia to the...
. He attended the common schools there and later attended the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
). He worked at his father’s store and later, as a Farmington businessman and agriculturist, he established thirteen cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
factories.
Politics
As a prominent citizen he rose quickly in politics in 1894. From 1895 to 1898 he served in the Michigan SenateMichigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
just as his father did. From 1901 until 1904 he served as the Michigan Secretary of State
Michigan Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the third-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. As the name implies, the officeholder was originally responsible for much of state government, but now the duties are similar to those of the other 47 secretaries of states...
under Aaron T. Bliss
Aaron T. Bliss
Aaron Thomas Bliss was a U.S. Representative from and the 25th Governor of the US state of Michigan, and was from Saginaw-Early life in New York:...
.
In 1904, Warner was elected 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:...
and served three terms, 1905-1910. He was known as a 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...
governor advocating such policies as regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
of railroad and insurance, conservation
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
, child labor laws and woman's suffrage. Also during his six years in office, a factory inspection bill was authorized, a direct primary election law was sanctioned and there was a promotion of highway construction.
Retirement and death
After leaving office, he stayed politically active. Warner was a member of the FreemasonsFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, Shriners
Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
, Elks
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
, and Maccabees
Knights of the Maccabees
Knights of the Maccabees was a fraternal organization formed in 1878 in London, Ontario, Canada. A related but separate organization, "Maccabees of the World", was also established, the two merging under the title "The Knights of the Maccabees of the World" , later shortened to the Maccabees in...
. In 1920, he began serving as a Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
man until his death three years later. He died at the age of fifty-eight of kidney failure and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Farmington, Michigan.
Additional reading
- Fuller, George, Ed., Messages of the Governors of Michigan, Volume 4 (East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press) ISBN 0-87013-723-9; ISBN 978-0-87013-723-5.