Moses Wisner

Moses Wisner ( born June 3, 1815 in Springport, Cayuga County, New York, † January 5, 1863 in Lexington, Kentucky ) was an American politician and from 1859 to 1861 the 12th Governor of the State of Michigan.

Early years and political rise

Moses Wisner attended local schools his New York home. In 1837 he moved to Michigan, where he settled in Lapeer County. There he worked as a farmer and studied by the way Jura. After his made ​​in 1841 admitted to the bar he became district attorney in Lapeer County.

Until the early 1850s, Wisner showed no great interest in politics. That changed with the escalation of the slavery issue. As a staunch opponent of the institution in the Southern states in 1854, he was one of the founding members of the Republican Party. Still in 1854, his new party nominated him for the midterm elections, but in which he was defeated his Democratic opponent. On November 2, 1858, he was elected as the new governor of Michigan.

Governor of Michigan

Wisner joined his two-year term on January 5, 1859. As governor, he pushed for the expansion of the road network in Michigan and the St. Mary's canal was made ​​navigable again. In addition to these infrastructure improvements a registration law was enacted for the citizens of Michigan ( General Registration Law ), and the University of Michigan, a law school was launched.

After the expiration of his term of office on January 2, 1861, Wisner withdrew from politics and was returned to the bar. During the Civil War he presented in September 1862 the 22nd Michigan Infantry Regiment, whose command he should take over as colonel. On the way to the front, he contracted typhoid fever and died in early January 1863 in Lexington. Moses Wisner was married to Angeline Hascall, with whom he had four children.