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Roger Wolcott (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Roger Wolcott was the son of Joshua Huntington Wolcott and Cornelia (Frothingham) Wolcott, and was the brother of Huntington Frothingham Wolcott. He graduated from Harvard University
in 1870, and from Harvard Law School
in 1874. He was a Justice of the Peace
from 1875–1900, a member of the Massachusetts Legislature
(Massachusetts General Court) from 1881–1884, Lieutenant Governor
of Massachusetts
from 1893-1897. He assumed the gubernatorial duties as Acting Governor
in 1896 as a result of the death of Frederic T. Greenhalge
and was later elected as the 39th Governor
in November, serving from 1897 until 1900.
He was also largely involved in business activities, including the Boston and Albany Railroad
and the New England Trust Company, and in philanthropic organizations as a member of the Boston Provident Association, a trustee of the Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Massachusetts General Hospital
. He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
, and an overseer of Harvard College.
He married Edith Prescott (b.1853) in 1874, who was the great-granddaughter of Colonel William Prescott
, who was the cousin of Roger Sherman's wife Rebecca Minot Prescott
. (William Gardiner3, William Hickling2, William Prescott1). The trustees of Milton Academy named the largest of the campus houses after Gov. Wolcott following his death in 1900.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1870, and from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1874. He was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
from 1875–1900, a member of the Massachusetts Legislature
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
(Massachusetts General Court) from 1881–1884, Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from 1893-1897. He assumed the gubernatorial duties as Acting Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in 1896 as a result of the death of Frederic T. Greenhalge
Frederic T. Greenhalge
Frederic Thomas Greenhalge was born in Clitheroe, England and immigrated with his parents to the United States in early childhood...
and was later elected as the 39th Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in November, serving from 1897 until 1900.
He was also largely involved in business activities, including the Boston and Albany Railroad
Boston and Albany Railroad
The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail and CSX. The line is used by CSX for freight...
and the New England Trust Company, and in philanthropic organizations as a member of the Boston Provident Association, a trustee of the Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
. He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history...
, and an overseer of Harvard College.
He married Edith Prescott (b.1853) in 1874, who was the great-granddaughter of Colonel William Prescott
William Prescott
William Prescott was an American colonel in the Revolutionary War who commanded the rebel forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill...
, who was the cousin of Roger Sherman's wife Rebecca Minot Prescott
Rebecca Minot Prescott
Rebecca Minot Prescott was the second wife of Roger Sherman.She was the daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Minot Prescott from Salem, Massachusetts; the niece of Roger Sherman’s brother Rev. Josiah Sherman and the second cousin once removed of Colonel William Prescott.Rebecca married Roger Sherman...
. (William Gardiner3, William Hickling2, William Prescott1). The trustees of Milton Academy named the largest of the campus houses after Gov. Wolcott following his death in 1900.