George A. Wilson
Encyclopedia
George Allison Wilson was a United States Senator
and 28th Governor of Iowa.
, Wilson attended rural schools, and Grinnell College
in Grinnell, Iowa
. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law
at Iowa City in 1907, and was admitted to the bar
the same year. He then commenced practice in Des Moines. He was assistant county attorney of Polk County, Iowa
from 1912 to 1914 and the Polk County Attorney from 1915 to 1916. He was a district judge from 1917 to 1921 and was a member of the Iowa Senate
from 1925 to 1935.
in the general election by fewer than 3,000 votes out of over one million cast.
In 1938, Wilson again ran against Kraschel, with the opposite result. Wilson received 52.7 percent of the vote. Wilson was then re-elected as Governor in 1940, winning again by 52.7 percent in the general election over Democrat John Valentine after overcoming a surprisingly strong challenge in the Republican primary from future Congressman H.R. Gross.
Instead of running for a third term in 1942, Wilson decided to challenge Senator Clyde L. Herring
, and defeated him. He served in the Senate from January 14, 1943, to January 3, 1949. His Senate committees included the Committee on Small Business and the Armed Services Committee.
In 1948, former U.S. Senator Guy M. Gillette, unseated in his own bid for re-election in 1944, ran against Wilson in the general election. Wilson was expected to win. However, in a year in which President Harry S. Truman
and many other Democrats surprised pundits, Gillette defeated Wilson by over 150,000 votes.
Wilson died in Des Moines in 1953, and was interred in Glendale Cemetery.
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...
and 28th Governor of Iowa.
Personal background
Born on a farm near Menlo, IowaMenlo, Iowa
Menlo is a city in Guthrie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 365 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Menlo is located at ....
, Wilson attended rural schools, and Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
in Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
at Iowa City in 1907, and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
the same year. He then commenced practice in Des Moines. He was assistant county attorney of Polk County, Iowa
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
from 1912 to 1914 and the Polk County Attorney from 1915 to 1916. He was a district judge from 1917 to 1921 and was a member of the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
from 1925 to 1935.
Iowa Governor and U.S. Senator
In 1936, Iowa's Governor, Democrat Clyde Herring, ran for the U.S. Senate instead of running for re-election. Wilson won the Republican nomination to succeed him as governor, but was defeated by Democrat Nelson G. KraschelNelson G. Kraschel
Nelson George Kraschel was an American politician of the Democratic Party. He was born on a farm near Macon, Illinois in 1889 and died in Harlan, Iowa in 1957....
in the general election by fewer than 3,000 votes out of over one million cast.
In 1938, Wilson again ran against Kraschel, with the opposite result. Wilson received 52.7 percent of the vote. Wilson was then re-elected as Governor in 1940, winning again by 52.7 percent in the general election over Democrat John Valentine after overcoming a surprisingly strong challenge in the Republican primary from future Congressman H.R. Gross.
Instead of running for a third term in 1942, Wilson decided to challenge Senator Clyde L. Herring
Clyde L. Herring
Clyde LaVerne Herring , an American politician and Democrat, served as the 26th Governor of Iowa, and then one of its U.S. Senators, during the last part of the Great Depression and the first part of World War II....
, and defeated him. He served in the Senate from January 14, 1943, to January 3, 1949. His Senate committees included the Committee on Small Business and the Armed Services Committee.
In 1948, former U.S. Senator Guy M. Gillette, unseated in his own bid for re-election in 1944, ran against Wilson in the general election. Wilson was expected to win. However, in a year in which President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
and many other Democrats surprised pundits, Gillette defeated Wilson by over 150,000 votes.
After the Senate
After leaving the Senate in early 1949, Wilson returned to the practice of law.Wilson died in Des Moines in 1953, and was interred in Glendale Cemetery.