Eugene Semple

Eugene Semple ( born June 12, 1840 in Bogotá, Colombia; † August 28, 1908 in San Diego, California ) was an American politician and from 1887 to 1889 the 13th Governor of the Washington Territory.

Early years

Eugene Semple was born the son of James Semple from Illinois, who at that time was U.S. Ambassador to Colombia. At the age of five years Eugene Semple returned with his parents back to Illinois. There he attended during the winter months, the local schools, while he helped out in the summer on the surrounding farms as an auxiliary force. Since 1856 he studied at the University of St. Louis. After studying law and graduating at the Cincinnati College, he was admitted to the bar.

Political ascent on the west coast

In 1863, Eugene Semple fulfilled his long -cherished desire to move to Oregon. Until 1869 he worked in Portland as a lawyer. Since 1869 he was also in the newspaper business, first as a reporter and then as a publisher of the "Daily Oregon Herald ." This newspaper was then the leading party organ of the Democratic Party in the northwestern United States. Newspaper and Semple were against Chinese immigrants. Immigration wave from China made in those years a social problem on the west coast of the USA represents and led to social tensions. Semple supported the construction of railways, but demanded that the railway had more use to the people. between 1870 and 1874 Eugene Semple became the head of a government printing of Oregon (State Printer ). Thereafter, he acquired land, began to work as a farmer and traded with cedar shingle. Finally, he moved to Vancouver in the Washington territory.

Political career in Washington State

In 1887 Semple was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as the new governor in Washington Territory. During his tenure, until 1889, preparations already ran to the inclusion of the site as a U.S. state. After the expiration of his term of office Semple ran unsuccessfully for the office of first regular Governor of the State of Washington. After that, he served as chief of police in Portland and head of the Government Printing Office. Particular He caused a sensation with a project to improve the waterways in Washington. Here, the Columbia River and its tributaries should be made as waterways navigable and some channels are built. He involved himself in the construction of such a channel, to which he received a grant from the government. However, the course of the canal was politically controversial. After a long sensational discussions Semple's project was abandoned.

Private life

Since 1870, Semple was married to Ruth A. Lowsdale. The couple had three daughters and a son. His wife died in the year 1883. Eugene Semple died in August 1908 in San Diego.