William Gaston (Massachusetts)

William Gaston ( born October 3, 1820 Killingly, Connecticut; † January 19, 1894 ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and 1875-1876 Governor of the State of Massachusetts.

Early years and political rise

William Gaston attended the public schools in Connecticut and then studied until 1840 at Brown University. After a subsequent law degree, he was admitted in 1844 as a lawyer. Then he began a successful career in Roxbury as a trial lawyer.

From 1853 to 1854, and again in 1856 was Gaston MP in the House of Representatives from Massachusetts. Between 1856 and 1860 he was a lawyer of the city Roxbury and 1861-1862 mayor of this municipality. In 1868 he was a member of the State Senate. Finally, he was elected in 1871 as mayor of the city of Boston. This office he held until 1872.

Governor of Massachusetts

On November 3, 1874 William Gaston was elected as the first Democrat since 1853 to the governor of his state. He assumed his new post on January 7, 1875 and held it until 5 January 1876. During this time the Prohibition law in Massachusetts has been overridden. Same time, new legislation to regulate the handling of alcoholic beverages has been adopted. In November 1875 Gaston failed in his renewed candidacy for the governorship.

After the end of his governorship Gaston withdrew from politics and was re- worked as a trial lawyer. He died in January 1894 and was buried in Boston. With his wife Louisa A. Beecher William Gaston had three children.