Alexander Randall

This article is about the Governor of Wisconsin. For the U.S. Representative from Maryland, see Alexander Randall (Maryland).

Alexander Williams Randall
22nd United States Postmaster General
In office July 25, 1866 – March 4, 1869
Preceded by	William Dennison, Jr.
Succeeded by	John Creswell
Personal details
Born	October 31, 1819(1819-10-31) Ames, New York
Died	July 26, 1872(1872-07-26) (aged 52) Elmira, New York
Political party	Republican
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Judge

Alexander Williams Randall (October 31, 1819– July 26, 1872) was a lawyer, judge and politician from Wisconsin. He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Biography

Randall was born in Ames, New York. His father Phineas was judge of the court of common pleas there from 1837 to 1841. Afterward, the Randall family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where his father died in 1853. Randall studied law in Waukesha and was admitted to the bar. He began to practice law in 1840. Soon afterwards, he became postmaster of Waukesha, where he worked until he was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1855.

As Governor before the beginning of the Civil War, Randall was an ardent abolitionist and proposed Wisconsin seceding from the Union if Abraham Lincoln did not win the Presidency.

Once war began Randall raised eighteen regiments, ten artillery batteries, and three cavalry units before leaving office, exceeding Wisconsin's quota by 3,232 men. The Union Army created a military camp from the former state fairgrounds in Madison, Wisconsin, named "Camp Randall" after the governor. (The initial soldiers there lived in the animal stables until better facilities were erected. The football stadium of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Camp Randall Stadium, is located on the site of the camp.)

In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Randall as U.S. Minister to the Vatican. President Johnson appointed him to be U.S. Postmaster General 1866–1869.

Randall died July 26, 1872 in Elmira, New York. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Section C, Lot 36.

External links

• "Alexander Randall". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15464263. Retrieved 2008-08-11. 

Political offices
Preceded by Coles Bashford	Governor of Wisconsin 1858–1861	Succeeded by Louis P. Harvey
Preceded by William Dennison, Jr.	United States Postmaster General Served under: Andrew Johnson 1866 – 1869	Succeeded by John A. J. Creswell