William Wallace Thayer
| William W. Thayer | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 6th Governor of Oregon | |
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In office September 11, 1878 – September 13, 1882 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen F. Chadwick |
| Succeeded by | Z.F. Moody |
| 30th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
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In office 1884–1890 |
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| Preceded by | Edward B. Watson |
| Succeeded by | Robert S. Bean |
| 14th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
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In office 1888–1890 |
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| Preceded by | William Paine Lord |
| Succeeded by | Reuben S. Strahan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 15, 1827 Lima, New York |
| Died | October 15, 1899 (aged 72) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Samantha C. Thayer |
| Profession | Lawyer |
William Wallace Thayer (July 15, 1827 – October 15, 1899), was an American Democratic politician active in U.S. states of Idaho and Oregon. Most notably, he served as the sixth Governor of Oregon from 1878 to 1882 and Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court from 1888 to 1889.
Thayer was born on a farm near Lima, New York, on July 15, 1827. He received a public education before studying law in college. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1851. He then practiced law with his brother in Buffalo and later Tonawanda.
A mining boom in Idaho Territory caught Thayer's attention in 1860, prompting him to move west. He arrived in Corvallis, Oregon, in 1861, where he joined his brother and former U.S. Representative Andrew J. Thayer, at his law firm. In 1863, he would finally move to Idaho, setting up his own law firm in Lewiston.
In 1866, three years after moving to Lewiston, Thayer was elected District Attorney for the Third Judicial District of Idaho Territory. From 1866 until 1867, he moved to Boise to serve for a session of the Idaho Territory House of Representatives. He moved to Portland, Oregon, shortly after leaving the legislature.
Upon returning to Oregon, Thayer established a successful law firm in the city of East Portland. At this time, he became an active member of the Democratic Party. During the 1876 Hayes-Tilden Presidential Election dispute, Thayer was a member of the legal team which challenged the certification of J. W. Watts, a Republican elector for Rutherford B. Hayes. Although successful, this challenge did not help Samuel Tilden prevail in the Electoral College.
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