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- Aug 25, 2012
Tonight on Soldiers, Politicians, and Other Men I though we might discuss a politician. William A. Buckingham was the governor of Connecticut for the entire Civil War. His name is probably not well known by students of the Civil War and' except in Connecticut' perhaps Governor Buckingham is largely forgotten. He had the USS Governor Buckingham named for him in 1863.
Buckingham started off in the mercantile industry and helped form the successful Hayward Rubber Company. He turned to politics and eventually was elected governor of Connecticut 8 times before declining to run a 9th time. A statue of him sits in the Connecticut capitol building. In 1884 Connecticut celebrated Buckingham Day to honor him. So why should we remember him?
Before the Civil War Buckingham opposed the expansion of slavery but was probably never a rabid abolitionist. As a Republican he was a strong Lincoln supporter. When Connecticut was asked for 10 companies at the start of the Civil War, Buckingham recruited 54 companies. Before the Connecticut General Assembly authorized funds for military purposes, Buckingham borrowed money in his own name. He worked very hard to support Connecticut soldiers, often working 12 hours per day 7 days per week. His support for Connecticut soldiers helped to earn him the nickname "War-Governor". He was famous for not allowing Connecticut soldiers to suffer for want of anything.
After he declined his ninth nomination to run as governor he was a U.S. senator. So let me go back and answer my own question of "So why should we remember his"? Because governors like William A. Buckingham helped to win the Civil War by strongly supporting their state's soldier, strongly supporting the Union war effort, and helping to guide the people of thier state through troubled times.
Buckingham started off in the mercantile industry and helped form the successful Hayward Rubber Company. He turned to politics and eventually was elected governor of Connecticut 8 times before declining to run a 9th time. A statue of him sits in the Connecticut capitol building. In 1884 Connecticut celebrated Buckingham Day to honor him. So why should we remember him?
Before the Civil War Buckingham opposed the expansion of slavery but was probably never a rabid abolitionist. As a Republican he was a strong Lincoln supporter. When Connecticut was asked for 10 companies at the start of the Civil War, Buckingham recruited 54 companies. Before the Connecticut General Assembly authorized funds for military purposes, Buckingham borrowed money in his own name. He worked very hard to support Connecticut soldiers, often working 12 hours per day 7 days per week. His support for Connecticut soldiers helped to earn him the nickname "War-Governor". He was famous for not allowing Connecticut soldiers to suffer for want of anything.
After he declined his ninth nomination to run as governor he was a U.S. senator. So let me go back and answer my own question of "So why should we remember his"? Because governors like William A. Buckingham helped to win the Civil War by strongly supporting their state's soldier, strongly supporting the Union war effort, and helping to guide the people of thier state through troubled times.
Bringing the