Thomas Riggs Jr.
| Thomas W. Riggs Jr. | |
|---|---|
Riggs in 1918
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| 3rd Governor of Alaska Territory | |
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In office April 12, 1918 – June 15, 1921 |
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| Nominated by | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | J. F. A. Strong |
| Succeeded by | Scott Cordelle Bone |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 17, 1873 Ilchester, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | January 16, 1945 (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Renée Marie Coudert |
Thomas W. Riggs Jr. (October 17, 1873 – January 16, 1945) was an American engineer who worked extensively in Alaska Territory, first as a leader of the team which surveyed the Alaska-Canada border and later as a Commissioner oversee construction of the Alaska Railroad. He was appointed Governor of Alaska Territory and served from 1918 till 1921. During his later life, Riggs served as United States Commissioner to the International Boundary Commission.
Riggs was born to Thomas and Catherine Winter (Gilbert) Riggs on October 17, 1873 in Ilchester, Maryland. He was educated at the Emerson Institute and a variety of other private schools located in both the United States and Germany. He studied civil engineering at Princeton University, graduating in 1894.
Following graduation he moved with his family to Washington state and took a job as a newspaper reporter in Tacoma. In 1896 he joined his family's lumber business in Bucoda before joining the Klondike Gold Rush the next year. From 1897 to 1901, Riggs prospected for gold near both Dawson City and Nome, Alaska with little success. From 1901 to 1903 he worked as a mining engineer in Idaho, Montana, and Utah.
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