Jump to content

James Wright Gordon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cydebot (talk | contribs) at 19:44, 24 September 2018 (Robot - Moving category Michigan State Senators to Category:Michigan state senators per CFD at Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2018 September 17.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

J. Wright Gordon
3rd Governor of Michigan
In office
February 23, 1841 – January 3, 1842
LieutenantThomas J. Drake
Preceded byWilliam Woodbridge
Succeeded byJohn S. Barry
2nd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
In office
January 7, 1840 – February 23, 1841
GovernorWilliam Woodbridge
Preceded byEdward Mundy
Succeeded byThomas J. Drake
Member of the Michigan Senate
In office
1839
Succeeded byHenry P. Bridge
Personal details
Born1809
Plainfield, Connecticut
DiedDecember 1853 (aged 43–44)
Pernambuco, Brazil
Political partyWhig

James Wright Gordon (1809 – December 1853), usually referred to as J. Wright Gordon, was a Whig politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.

Gordon was born in Plainfield, Connecticut and studied law.

Life and politics in Michigan

He later moved to Michigan, establishing a practice in Marshall, and also lived for a time in Battle Creek. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate (6th district) in 1839 and served as the second Lieutenant Governor from 1840 to 1841.

Gordon became the third Governor of Michigan ex officio, when William Woodbridge resigned on February 23, 1841, to become a U.S. Senator. He completed the remainder of Woodbridge's term, until January 3, 1842.

He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Representative from Michigan's 2nd congressional district in 1846 and 1847, being defeated by John Smith Chipman.

Death in Brazil

Gordon was U.S. Consul in Pernambuco, Brazil from 1850 to 1853 and died at the age of 44, while in office, when he accidentally fell to his death from a second-story balcony.

J. Wright Gordon is interred in Brazil.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
1840–1841
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Michigan
1841–1842
Succeeded by