William Gaston (Massachusetts)
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| William Gaston | |
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| In office January 7, 1875 – January 6, 1876 |
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| Lieutenant | Horatio G. Knight |
| Preceded by | Thomas Talbot (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Alexander H. Rice |
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| In office 1871 – 1872 |
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| Preceded by | Nathaniel B. Shurtleff |
| Succeeded by | Henry L. Pierce |
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| Born | 1820 (aged 74?) |
| Died | 1894 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Lawyer |
William Gaston (1820-1894) was Governor of Massachusetts in 1875-1876.
William Gaston had established a successful legal practice in the City of Roxbury before entering politics. He served as a Representative in the State Legislature (1853-1854), as Roxbury's City Solicitor (1856-60), and as its Mayor (1861 and 1862). He resumed his private practice of law until 1868, when he served the Massachusetts Senate for a year.
The City of Boston annexed Roxbury in 1868, and in 1871, Gaston was voted Mayor of Boston. Running for Governor as a Democrat, Gaston defeated incumbent Thomas Talbot who had supported the continuance of statewide prohibition by his veto. Gaston promoted a law repealing the Commonwealth's prohibition law, leaving such restrictions to the determination of localities. Governor Gaston was defeated in his reelection bid by Alexander Rice. Gaston returned to his extremely successful legal practice, gaining renown as a trial attorney.
Gaston and his wife Louisa Augusta (Beecher) were the parents of William Alexander Gaston (1859-1927), who ran for governor of Massachusetts in 1902 and 1903 but lost.
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| Preceded by Thomas Talbot |
Governor of Massachusetts January 7, 1875 – January 6, 1876 |
Succeeded by Alexander H. Rice |
| Preceded by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff |
Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts 1871 – 1872 |
Succeeded by Henry L. Pierce |
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