Shelby Moore Cullom

Shelby Moore Cullom ( born November 22, 1829 in Monticello, Kentucky; † January 28, 1914 in Washington DC ) was an American politician and from 1877 to 1883 the 18th Governor of Illinois. He also represented the State of Illinois in both chambers of the U.S. Congress

Early years and political rise

Already in 1830 came Cullom with his father in the Tazewell County, Illinois, where he attended the local schools. Later he studied law and in 1855 he was admitted to the bar. He then practiced in Springfield. Cullom was a member of the Republican Party, founded in 1854. Already in 1856 he was one of the electors of John C. Frémont, the first, although unsuccessful, presidential candidate of the party. Between 1856 and 1874 he was with some interruptions several times a deputy in the House of Representatives from Illinois, at times even the President ( Speaker). In between, he was from 1865 to 1871 deputy in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington. In 1872 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, was nominated to the President Ulysses S. Grant for re-election.

Governor of Illinois

In 1876 he was nominated by his party for the office of governor and then elected by the voters of Illinois at this office. His term began on January 8, 1877. Upon his reelection in 1880, he entered on February 5, 1883 by this office back to a seat in the U.S. Senate to take. During his tenure, he had to deal with some unrest in the country, which he would strike down only with the help of the military. It finally managed to pay off the debts that were incurred by the Internal Improvement Act of 1837. At that time, Governor Joseph Duncan wanted to improve the country's infrastructure with a major financial effort. It was a huge financial failure, the consequences of which could be solved only under Governor Cullom. At that time, a Ministry of Health ( State Board of Health) and a kind Labour Office ( Bureau of Labor Statistics ) were introduced. The opening times of the polling stations was unified.

More career

Between the 4th March 1883, the March 3, 1913 Cullom was a member of the U.S. Senate in Washington. He was represented in numerous committees. In 1884 and 1892 he was a delegate to the national Republican national conventions. He was from 1885 to 1913 and member of the Board of the Smithsonian Institution. Shelby Cullom died in January 1914 in Washington. He was married to Julia Fisher and had two children with her.