Robert Pattison
| Robert E. Pattison | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 19th Governor of Pennsylvania | |
|
In office January 16, 1883 – January 12, 1887 January 20, 1891 – January 23, 1895 |
|
| Preceded by |
Henry M. Hoyt James A. Beaver |
| Succeeded by |
James A. Beaver Daniel H. Hastings |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Emory Pattison December 8, 1850 Quantico, Maryland |
| Died | August 1, 1904 (aged 53) |
| Political party | Democratic |
Robert Emory Pattison (December 8, 1850 – August 1, 1904) was the 19th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1883 to 1887 and 1891 to 1895. Pattison was the only Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania between the Civil War and the start of the Great Depression.
Born at Quantico in Somerset County, Maryland, Pattison moved with his family to Philadelphia when he was five. He practiced law from 1872 to 1877 and was elected Controller of the city of Philadelphia in 1880. He was the Democratic candidate for governor at the young age of 32, and, with little experience in public office, took the governor's office back from a succession of Republican administrations. Under the constitution of 1874, Pennsylvania governors, now serving a 4-year term, were prevented from seeking two consecutive terms. Pattison's opponent in the 1882 election, James Addams Beaver, held the post for a term before Pattison sought the office once again in 1890. During his second term, he ordered state militia to halt the Homestead Strike.
A key to Pattison's success was his close relationship with the Democratic leader of Philadelphia, retired General Lewis Cassidy. He studied law under Cassidy, and was admitted to the bar at the age of 21. Although he campaigned as an anti- political machine reformer, he appointed Cassidy as Attorney General of Pennsylvania. He did constant battle with machine interests, and in his second term enacted legislation providing for a secret ballot for voters in all elections.
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