William Claflin
Encyclopedia
William Claflin was an industrialist and philanthropist who served as the 27th Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
from 1869–1872 and as a member of the United States Congress
from 1877–1881.
Claflin was born in 1818 in Milford, Massachusetts
. After some education at Brown University
, Claflin returned to his father Lee Claflin's shoe manufacturing company. He opened his own boot and shoe manufacturing firm in St. Louis
, but became a partner in the family's Massachusetts business five years later.
Claflin had a significant political career in Massachusetts. He was a founder of the Free Soil Party
, served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1849–1853, and was elected to the Senate in 1859. By this time he had switched to the United States Republican Party and later served on its national committee. He became Senate President in 1861. After serving as Lieutenant Governor for Alexander Hamilton Bullock
, Claflin was elected to the Governor's office in 1868.
While Governor, Claflin promoted women's suffrage
and extended women greater rights under the law. During his administration, he advocated prison reform
and established the state's first board of public health. Claflin also created the Massachusetts Indian Commission with social activists Wendell Phillips
and Helen Hunt Jackson
. In 1869, Claflin chartered Boston University
, a Methodist institution, which his father co-founded. He served for three terms, each one year in length, but declined to run for a fourth.
Claflin returned to business and supported philanthropic activities. Along with his father, Claflin donated funds to purchase land for Claflin University
, the historically black, Methodist university in South Carolina
. The University was founded in 1869. Elected as a Republican, he later served two terms as a member of the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses (from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881). He died in 1905 in Newton, 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 1869–1872 and as a member of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from 1877–1881.
Claflin was born in 1818 in Milford, Massachusetts
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
. After some education at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Claflin returned to his father Lee Claflin's shoe manufacturing company. He opened his own boot and shoe manufacturing firm in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, but became a partner in the family's Massachusetts business five years later.
Claflin had a significant political career in Massachusetts. He was a founder of the Free Soil Party
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership...
, served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1849–1853, and was elected to the Senate in 1859. By this time he had switched to the United States Republican Party and later served on its national committee. He became Senate President in 1861. After serving as Lieutenant Governor for Alexander Hamilton Bullock
Alexander H. Bullock
Alexander Hamilton Bullock was the 26th Governor of Massachusetts from 1866 to 1869 and helped create the New England Emigrant Aid Society in 1855.-Education and early career:...
, Claflin was elected to the Governor's office in 1868.
While Governor, Claflin promoted women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and extended women greater rights under the law. During his administration, he advocated prison reform
Prison reform
Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system.-History:Prisons have only been used as the primary punishment for criminal acts in the last couple of centuries...
and established the state's first board of public health. Claflin also created the Massachusetts Indian Commission with social activists Wendell Phillips
Wendell Phillips
Wendell Phillips was an American abolitionist, advocate for Native Americans, and orator. He was an exceptional orator and agitator, advocate and lawyer, writer and debater.-Education:...
and Helen Hunt Jackson
Helen Hunt Jackson
Helen Maria Hunt Jackson, born Helen Fiske , was a United States writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government. She detailed the adverse effects of government actions in her history A Century of Dishonor...
. In 1869, Claflin chartered Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, a Methodist institution, which his father co-founded. He served for three terms, each one year in length, but declined to run for a fourth.
Claflin returned to business and supported philanthropic activities. Along with his father, Claflin donated funds to purchase land for Claflin University
Claflin University
Claflin University is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. Claflin University was founded in 1869 and is the oldest historically black college or university in the state of South Carolina.-History:...
, the historically black, Methodist university in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The University was founded in 1869. Elected as a Republican, he later served two terms as a member of the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses (from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881). He died in 1905 in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
.