William P. Dillingham

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William Paul Dillingham

42^nd Governor of Vermont
In office 1888 – 1890
Lieutenant(s)	Urban A. Woodbury
Preceded by	Ebenezer J. Ormsbee
Succeeded by	Carroll S. Page

Born	December 12, 1843 Waterbury, Vermont
Died	July 12, 1923 Montpelier, Vermont
Political party	Republican
Profession	lawyer / politician

William Paul Dillingham was an American Republican politician from the state of Vermont.

[edit] Early life

Dillingham was born on December 12, 1843 in Waterbury, Vermont, where he later attended the public schools. Upon completing that system, he studied at Newbury Seminary and Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867; he began to practice in his hometown not long after.

[edit] Public Service

Dillingham's first post in public office was that of prosecuting attorney of Washington County, Vermont, where he served for four years from 1872 to 1876. He served concurrently as secretary of civil and military affairs for the last two years of his tenure in Washington County. In 1876, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives and then to the Vermont Senate in 1878 and 1880; he returned to the Vermont House in 1884. After his service as a legislator, Dillingham was appointed Vermont's tax commissioner for 1882-1888. In 1888 he was elected to one two-year term as Governor of Vermont.

From 1890 to 1900 he served in various capacties, especially in educational institutions around the state. In 1900, Dillingham was elected to his first federal office; he was elected to the United States Senate to fill the seat of the late Justin Smith Morrill. Dillingham was reelected in 1903, 1909, 1914, and 1920, and served until his death on July 12, 1923 in Montpelier, Vermont. From 1907 to 1910, Dillingham chaired (concurrently with his Senate duties) the United States Immigration Commission. Upon his death, he was buried in the Village Cemetery in his hometown of Waterbury, Vermont.