William O'Connell Bradley, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

William O'Connell Bradley

politician from the US state of Kentucky

Date of Birth: 18-Mar-1847

Place of Birth: Garrard County, Kentucky, United States

Date of Death: 23-May-1914

Profession: lawyer, politician

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Pisces


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About William O'Connell Bradley

  • William O'Connell Bradley (March 18, 1847 – May 23, 1914) was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He served as the 32nd Governor of Kentucky and was later elected by the state legislature as a U.S.
  • senator from that state.
  • The first Republican to serve as governor of Kentucky, Bradley became known as the father of the Republican Party in Kentucky.As a Republican in a heavily Democratic state, Bradley found little success early in his political career.
  • He was defeated for a seat in the United States House of Representatives and in the United States Senate twice each.
  • After rising to national prominence with his speech seconding the presidential nomination of Ulysses S.
  • Grant at the 1880 Republican National Convention, he was nominated for governor in 1887.
  • Although he lost the contest to Simon Bolivar Buckner, he reduced the usual Democratic majority substantially.
  • He was again nominated for governor in 1895.
  • Capitalizing on divisions in the Democratic Party over the issue of free silver, he defeated Parker Watkins Hardin in the general election.
  • His term was marked by political struggles and violence.
  • He was an advocate for blacks and did much to advance their status in the state, but was unable to enact much of his reform agenda because of a hostile Democratic majority in the state legislature. Republican William S.
  • Taylor was elected to succeed Bradley in the contentious 1899 gubernatorial election.
  • When Democratic nominee William Goebel and his running mate J.
  • C.
  • W.
  • Beckham challenged the election results, Bradley formed part of the legal team for the Republicans.
  • The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, which found in favor of the Democrats.
  • Despite being a member of the state's minority party, Bradley was elected to the U.S.
  • Senate in 1907.
  • Again, divisions within the Democratic Party played a role in his election.
  • Bradley's opposition to Prohibition made him more palatable to some Democrats than their own candidate, outgoing Governor Beckham.
  • Beckham refused to withdraw in favor of a compromise candidate, and after two months of balloting, four Democratic legislators crossed party lines and elected Bradley.
  • Bradley had a largely undistinguished career in the Senate.
  • On the day he announced he would not seek re-election to his Senate seat, he was involved in a streetcar accident.
  • He died from his injuries on May 23, 1914.

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