William D. Washburn, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

William D. Washburn

American politician

Date of Birth: 14-Jan-1831

Place of Birth: Livermore, Maine, United States

Date of Death: 29-Jul-1912

Profession: businessperson, politician

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


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About William D. Washburn

  • William Drew "W.D." Washburn, Sr.
  • (January 14, 1831 – July 29, 1912) was an American politician.
  • He served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate as a Republican from Minnesota.
  • Three of his seven brothers became politicians: Elihu B.
  • Washburne, Cadwallader C.
  • Washburn, and Israel Washburn, Jr.
  • He was also cousin of Dorilus Morrison, the first mayor of Minneapolis.
  • He served in the 46th, 47th, 48th, 51st, 52nd, and 53rd congresses. Washburn was born in Livermore, Maine.
  • A graduate of Bowdoin College, he first studied law in the office of John A.
  • Peters in Bangor, Maine before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota around 1857.
  • There he practiced law, and worked for the Minneapolis Milling Company (founded by his brother Cadwallader).
  • His business ventures in lumber and flour milling allowed him to amass a large fortune, and by the 1880s, he was among the wealthiest men in Minnesota.
  • Washburn served as the first president from 1883 to 1889 of what was to become Soo Line Railroad.
  • He also founded the Pillsbury-Washburn Milling Company, which later became the Pillsbury Company, and was eventually absorbed by his brother's firm, General Mills. Washburn built a mansion known as "Fair Oaks" in 1883.
  • It was designed by E.
  • Townsend Mix, who also designed Minneapolis's Metropolitan Building, and the outdoor landscape was laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted.
  • The grounds included an artificial stream leading to a pond, a rustic footbridge, a greenhouse, and a carriage house.
  • The home was demolished in 1924 to make way for a park, although the region is now part of the Washburn-Fair Oaks Mansion District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Washburn served in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1871.
  • He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1878 and served from March 4, 1879 to March 3, 1885.
  • He was elected to the Senate in 1888 and served from March 4, 1889 to March 4, 1895. Washburn was a founder of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis in 1859.
  • A major benefactor, he served as a trustee and President for much of his remaining life.
  • He died in Minneapolis in 1912.
  • His grandson C.
  • Langhorne Washburn was to be active in the Republican Party from the 1950s through the 1970s. William Washburn's son, Cadwallader Lincoln Washburn, was born in 1866.
  • Cad became deaf as a child.
  • His talent as an artist was noticed at an early age.
  • Cad eventually became a noted artist and news correspondent who pioneered many new painting techniques in the west.
  • The arts center at his alma mater, Gallaudet University, is named for Cad Washburn.
  • Another son William Drew Washburn, Jr.
  • also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Read more at Wikipedia

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