John Marshall Hamilton

John Marshall Hamilton ( born May 28, 1847 in Ridgewood, Ohio; † September 22, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois ) was an American politician and from 1883 to 1885 the 18th Governor of Illinois.

Early years

John Hamilton moved in 1854 with his family in the area of Wenona, Illinois. There he attended the local schools. As a young man he took part in the final phase of the civil war as a private soldier of the Union Army. After the war he studied at Ohio Wesleyan University. He then became a teacher and even a professor of Latin at the Illinois Wesley University. Finally, however, he decided on a legal career. After studying law he was admitted to the bar in 1870. Then he opened an office in Bloomington.

Political rise

Hamilton's political career began in 1876 when he was elected to the Illinois Senate. This mandate he held until 1880. This year he was nominated by his Republican Party for the office of lieutenant governor. After the successful election, he joined this office in January 1881. As the incumbent Governor Shelby Cullom resigned in February 1883 from his post to take a seat in the U.S. Congress, Hamilton moved to his duties.

Governor of Illinois

Hamilton's tenure lasted from February 16, 1883 to January 30, 1885. As governor, he pushed for an improvement of the education system. At that time, the statutory compulsory education in Illinois has been introduced. In October 1883 uniform time zones was fixed at the insistence of the railroads in Illinois and across the U.S.. Governor Hamilton had to deal with unrest in some districts of the country. In addition, the funds for the completion of the Capitol in Springfield was provided in his tenure.

Further CV

After the expiration of his term of office Hamilton practiced law in Chicago. Here he is in 1905 also died. He was married to Helen William, with whom he had three children.