Harrison Ludington

Harrison Ludington
Harrison Ludington
13th Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878
Lieutenant	Charles D. Parker
Preceded by	William Robert Taylor
Succeeded by	William E. Smith
20th Mayor of Milwaukee
In office 1871–1872
Preceded by	Joseph Phillips
Succeeded by	David G. Hecker
22nd Mayor of Milwaukee
In office 1873–1876
Preceded by	David G. Hecker
Succeeded by	Ammi R. Butler
Personal details
Born	July 30, 1812 Kent, New York
Died	June 17, 1891 (aged 78) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	E. Macy Tobey
Profession	businessman, politician

Harrison Ludington (July 30, 1812 – June 17, 1891) was an American Republican politician who served as the 12th Governor of Wisconsin and a mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Harrison Ludington descended from William Ludington, one of the earliest American colonists, who settled at Charlestown, Mass. in 1632, and died at the East Haven Iron Works, Connecticut, in 1662 or 1663. His grandfather was Colonel Henry Ludington (May 25, 1739 Branford, New Haven, CT – January 24, 1817 Patterson, Putnam. NY), a commanding officer of the volunteer 7th Regiment of the Dutchess County Militia, during the American Revolutionary War. Henry Ludington later became an aide to General George Washington. Henry's daughter, Sybil Ludington (1761–1839), was famous for risking her life when she was 16 years old to warn the American militia that British troops were burning Danbury, Connecticut.

Ludington was born in Kent, Dutchess County, New York. Son of Frederick and Susannah (Griffeth) Ludington. Harrison received common (district) school education. He moved to Milwaukee in 1838. At the age of 24 he became a joint owner of a merchandising business with his uncle, Lewis Ludington. This general merchandising business was conducted out of Solomon Juneau's warehouse between years 1839–1851. In 1851 he became involved in lumber business, operating in the northeastern part of the state. He was a member of the firm of Ludington, Wells (Daniel Wells, Jr.) and Van Schaick (Anthony G. Van Schaick). Ludington became an active developer in Milwaukee, where he began his political career. He served two terms as a Milwaukee alderman, three terms as Milwaukee's mayor, a position that he resigned from to serve as Wisconsin's governor. He defeated his predecessor William R. Taylor, Democrat, in November, 1875. Ludington served as a governor of Wisconsin from 1876 to 1878. He married twice, his first wife was Frances White, married on March 25, 1838 in Louisville, KY. His second wife was a widow Eve Mary Tobey, they married on June 7, 1875. He had a total of six children.