Gilbert A. Pierce
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Ashville Pierce (January 11, 1839 February 15, 1901) was an author, journalist, playwright, and a member of the Indiana
state legislature, the eighth Governor
of Dakota Territory
, and representative for North Dakota
in the United States Senate
.
, Cattaraugus County, New York
. He and his parents moved to Indiana
. Pierce attended the University of Chicago
; where he studied writing, literature, and law. He enlisted in the ninth Indiana Volunteers as a second lieutenant in 1861. By 1864, Pierce was a colonel and an inspector general of the War Department.
In 1868, he became a member of the Indiana state legislature. From 1868 to 1871, Pierce was a journal clerk of the United States Senate. After resigning, he edited a Republican Chicago newspaper called the "Inter Ocean" as well as wrote a number of plays, novels, and sketches. In 1877, Pierce became managing editor of the "Inter Ocean" before assuming a similar position for the "Chicago News."
On June 25, 1884 Gilbert Pierce was appointed Governor of Dakota Territory by President Chester A. Arthur
. Because of the corruption of his predecessor, Governor Pierce's appointment was treated with suspicion by residents of Dakota Territory. Because of bad feelings over the moving of the territorial capitol, Pierce chose to be sworn in at the former capitol city of Yankton
on July 25, 1884 before assuming office at the new capitol of Bismarck
. With time, the new Governor gained respect in the territory.
Governor Pierce vetoed a bill to move the capitol from Bismarck to Pierre. He and the legislature did agree to establish the School of Mines
at Rapid City
. Pierce vetoed a bill to grant equal suffrage to women. He was a proponent of statehood and quickly signed a bill into law to authorize a state constitutional convention for southern Dakota Territory.
In August 1886, Governor Pierce resigned but remained in office until February 5, 1887. After leaving office, he served in Bismarck as a correspondent for newspapers in St. Paul, Minnesota. After North Dakota
became a state in 1889, Pierce was elected to one term as United States Senator.
In 1891, he purchased a half interest in the Minneapolis Tribune before selling it to become business manager of the Chicago Post and Times-Herald. In 1893, Pierce was appointed U.S. Minister to Portugal
by President Benjamin Harrison
; but failing health forced Pierce to resign after only a few months.
Pierce's last years were spent in British Columbia
, Washington, and California
before the time of his death in Chicago, Illinois, aged 62.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
state legislature, the eighth Governor
Governors of Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory existed as an entity from 1861 until 1889, when it was divided into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. The Territorial Governor was appointed by the President of the United States....
of Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, and representative for North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
in 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...
.
Biography
Gilbert Pierce was born at East OttoEast Otto, New York
East Otto is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,105 at the 2000 census. The town is named after an agent of the Holland Land Company, Jacob Otto.The Town of East Otto is on the northern border of the county....
, Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
. He and his parents moved to Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Pierce attended the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
; where he studied writing, literature, and law. He enlisted in the ninth Indiana Volunteers as a second lieutenant in 1861. By 1864, Pierce was a colonel and an inspector general of the War Department.
In 1868, he became a member of the Indiana state legislature. From 1868 to 1871, Pierce was a journal clerk of the United States Senate. After resigning, he edited a Republican Chicago newspaper called the "Inter Ocean" as well as wrote a number of plays, novels, and sketches. In 1877, Pierce became managing editor of the "Inter Ocean" before assuming a similar position for the "Chicago News."
On June 25, 1884 Gilbert Pierce was appointed Governor of Dakota Territory by President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
. Because of the corruption of his predecessor, Governor Pierce's appointment was treated with suspicion by residents of Dakota Territory. Because of bad feelings over the moving of the territorial capitol, Pierce chose to be sworn in at the former capitol city of Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota
Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
on July 25, 1884 before assuming office at the new capitol of Bismarck
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
. With time, the new Governor gained respect in the territory.
Governor Pierce vetoed a bill to move the capitol from Bismarck to Pierre. He and the legislature did agree to establish the School of Mines
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public institution of higher learning in Rapid City, South Dakota governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Founded in 1885 as the Dakota School of Mines, Tech offers degree programs in engineering and science fields. 2,354 students were...
at Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. Pierce vetoed a bill to grant equal suffrage to women. He was a proponent of statehood and quickly signed a bill into law to authorize a state constitutional convention for southern Dakota Territory.
In August 1886, Governor Pierce resigned but remained in office until February 5, 1887. After leaving office, he served in Bismarck as a correspondent for newspapers in St. Paul, Minnesota. After North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
became a state in 1889, Pierce was elected to one term as United States Senator.
In 1891, he purchased a half interest in the Minneapolis Tribune before selling it to become business manager of the Chicago Post and Times-Herald. In 1893, Pierce was appointed U.S. Minister to Portugal
United States Ambassador to Portugal
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Portugal.Bilateral diplomatic relations between the United States and Portugal date from the earliest years of the United States. Following the Revolutionary War, Portugal was the first neutral country to recognize the United States. On February...
by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
; but failing health forced Pierce to resign after only a few months.
Pierce's last years were spent in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Washington, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
before the time of his death in Chicago, Illinois, aged 62.