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Nathan Goff, Jr.

Nathan Goff Jr.
Nathan Goff, Jr. - Brady-Handy.jpg
United States Senator
from West Virginia
In office
April 1, 1913 – March 3, 1919
Preceded by Clarence Wayland Watson
Succeeded by Davis Elkins
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
In office
March 17, 1892 – March 31, 1913
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
In office
March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1889
Preceded by Benjamin Wilson
Succeeded by John O. Pendleton
28th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office
January 7, 1881 – March 4, 1881
President Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded by Richard W. Thompson
Succeeded by William H. Hunt
Personal details
Born (1843-02-09)February 9, 1843
Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States
Died April 24, 1920(1920-04-24) (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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