George Laird Shoup

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1^st Governor of Idaho
George L. Shoup

United States Senator from Idaho
In office December 18, 1890 – March 3, 1901
Preceded by	(none)
Succeeded by	Fred Dubois
In office October 1, 1890 – December 18, 1890
Lieutenant	N. B. Willey
Preceded by	himself (as Governor of Idaho Territory)
Succeeded by	N. B. Willey
12^th Governor of Idaho Territory
In office 1889 – 1890
Preceded by	Edward A. Stevenson
Succeeded by	himself (as Governor of Idaho)

Born	June 24, 1836 (1836-06-24) Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Died	December 21, 1904 (aged 68) Boise, Idaho
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Leona Darnuster
Residence	Salmon
Profession	Mining, Military
Religion	Presbyterian

George Laird Shoup (NSHC.

George Laird Shoup (born June 24, 1836 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania – died December 21, 1904 in Boise, Idaho) was the first Governor of Idaho, serving a short time after statehood in 1890 before becoming one of the state's first United States Senators.

After being devasated financially in the panic of 1857, Shoup moved to Colorado Territory in 1859 to engage in mining and merchandising near Pikes Peak. During the Civil War he enlisted with the independent scouts working in New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. He was commissioned colonel when the Third Colorado Cavalry was formed and took part in the battles of Apache Canyon and Sand Creek.

After the war Shoup moved to Virginia City, Montana Territory, and then settled in Salmon, Idaho Territory, a city that he helped found. Shoup was appointed commissioner to organize Lemhi County, and in 1874 he was elected to the territorial legislature. With few interruptions, he served on the Republican National Committee for Idaho from 1880 to 1904.

In April 1889, President Benjamin Harrison appointed Shoup governor of Idaho Territory. Shoup remained in the position until July 1890, when Idaho became a state and Idaho Territory ceased to exist. Shoup was elected the state's first governor in October.

Shoup served as governor of the new state for only a few weeks. In November 1890 the Idaho Legislature elected him to the United States Senate. Shoup resigned as governor in December to take his Senate seat. He was succeeded as governor by Lieutenant Governor N. B. Willey.

In the Senate Shoup had many interests, including pensions, education, and military affairs. He was chairman of the Committee on Territories. In that position he advocated liberal and just treatment of the Native Americans. Shoup was reelected to a full six-year term in the Senate by the Idaho Legislature in 1894, but in 1900 he was defeated by Democrat Fred Dubois.

In 1910, the state of Idaho donated a marble statue of Shoup to the National Statuary Hall Collection.

Preceded by None	United States Senator (Class 2) from Idaho 1890–1901 Served alongside: William J. McConnell, Fred T. Dubois, Henry Heitfeld	Succeeded by Fred T. Dubois

v • d • e Governors of Idaho

Shoup • Willey • McConnell • Steunenberg • Hunt • Morrison • Gooding • Brady • Hawley • Haines • Alexander • Davis • Moore • Baldridge • Ross • B. Clark • Bottolfsen • C. Clark • Bottolfsen • Gossett • Williams • Robins • Jordan • Smylie • Samuelson • Andrus • Evans • Andrus • Batt • Kempthorne • Risch • Otter

v • d • e United States Senators from Idaho

Class 2: Shoup • Dubois • Borah • Thomas • Gossett • Dworshak • Miller • Dworshak • Jordan • McClure • Craig Class 3: McConnell • Dubois • Heitfeld • Heyburn • Perky • Brady • Nugent • Gooding • Thomas • Pope • Clark • Taylor • Welker • Church • Symms • Kempthorne • Crapo