William Alfred Buckingham

William Alfred Buckingham
41st Governor of Connecticut
In office 1858–1866
Lieutenant	Julius Catlin (1858–1861) Benjamin Douglas (1861–1862) Roger Averill (1862–1866)
Preceded by	Alexander H. Holley
Succeeded by	Joseph R. Hawley
United States Senator from Connecticut
In office March 4, 1869 – February 5, 1875
Preceded by	James Dixon
Succeeded by	William W. Eaton
Personal details
Born	May 28, 1804 Lebanon, Connecticut
Died	February 5, 1875(1875-02-05) (aged 70) Norwich, Connecticut
Political party	Republican

William Alfred Buckingham (May 28, 1804 – February 5, 1875) was a Republican United States Senator from Connecticut.

Born in Lebanon, Connecticut, Buckingham attended the common schools and Bacon Academy in Colchester, Connecticut. He engaged in mercantile pursuits and in manufacturing. He served as the mayor of Norwich, Connecticut from 1849 to 1850, and again form 1856 to 1857. He then served as the 41st Governor of Connecticut from 1858 to 1866, after which he resumed his former business pursuits.

Buckingham was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1869 until his death in 1875. While in the Senate, Buckingham served as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills, the Committee on Investigation and Retrenchment, and the Committee on Indian Affairs. He was interred in Yantic Cemetery in Norwich.

The ship USS Governor Buckingham (1863) is named after him.

Sources

• William Alfred Buckingham at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• American National Biography
• Dictionary of American Biography
• Buckingham, Samuel G. The Life of William A. Buckingham. Springfield: W.F. Adams Co., 1894
• U.S. Congress. Memorial Addresses. 43rd Cong., 2nd sess. from 1874 to 1875. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1875.

Political offices
Preceded by Alexander H. Holley	Governor of Connecticut 1858–1866	Succeeded by Joseph R. Hawley
United States Senate
Preceded by James Dixon	United States Senator (Class 1) from Connecticut 1869–1875 Served alongside: Orris S. Ferry	Succeeded by William W. Eaton