Nathan Goff
| Nathan Goff Jr. | |
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United States Senator from West Virginia |
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In office April 1, 1913 – March 3, 1919 |
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| Preceded by | Clarence Wayland Watson |
| Succeeded by | Davis Elkins |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
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In office March 17, 1892 – March 31, 1913 |
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| Appointed by | Benjamin Harrison |
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Charles Albert Woods |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 1st district |
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In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1889 |
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| Preceded by | Benjamin Wilson |
| Succeeded by | John O. Pendleton |
| 28th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
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In office January 7, 1881 – March 4, 1881 |
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| President | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | Richard W. Thompson |
| Succeeded by | William H. Hunt |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 9, 1843 Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States |
| Died | April 24, 1920 (aged 77) Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States |
| Resting place | Odd Fellows Cemetery in Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Goff (1842–1918) |
| Children |
Guy Despard Goff Waldo Percy Goff |
| Alma mater |
Georgetown University City University of New York |
| Profession | Politician, lawyer |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Nathan Goff Jr. (February 9, 1843 – April 24, 1920) was a member of the United States Congress from West Virginia. He also served briefly as United States Secretary of the Navy during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration and as a United States federal judge.
Goff was born at the Waldomore in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on February 9, 1843, the son of Waldo Potter Goff and the former Harriet Louise Moore. He attended Northwestern Academy in Clarksburg and went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. He received a law degree from City University of New York.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Goff enlisted in the Union Army as part of the Third Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Infantry, later becoming a major in the [West] Virginia Volunteer Cavalry. (Note - He is not to be confused with another Union Army officer named Nathan Goff Jr. who was born in Warren, Rhode Island, served as colonel of the 37th United States Colored Troops Regiment and was breveted to the rank of brigadier general at the end of the war.)
On November 7, 1865, Goff married Laura Ellen Despard (1842–1918), and they had two sons, Guy D. Goff and Dr. Weldo P. Goff.
In 1865, Goff was admitted to the bar and established a legal practice, while also becoming prominent in West Virginia politics as a Republican. He served in the State House of Delegates from 1867 to 1868. In 1868 he became United States Attorney for West Virginia, a position he held until 1881. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in 1870 and 1874 and for Governor of West Virginia in 1876. Late in his term as President, Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him Secretary of the Navy after the resignation of Richard W. Thompson from Indiana. Goff held the position from January 7, 1881, until March 4, 1881.
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