| Alonzo Barton Cornell | |
|---|---|
| 27th Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1880 – December 31, 1882 |
|
| Lieutenant | George G. Hoskins |
| Preceded by | Lucius Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Grover Cleveland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 22, 1832 Ithaca, New York, USA |
| Died | October 15, 1904 (aged 72) Ithaca, New York, USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician, Businessman |
| Religion | Quaker |
Alonzo Barton Cornell (January 22, 1832 – October 15, 1904) was a New York politician and businessman who served as 27th Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882.
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Born in Ithaca, New York, he was the eldest son of Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell University and Mary Ann (Wood) Cornell. He was educated at the Ithaca Academy, and at the age of fifteen began a career in the field of telegraphy, later serving as a manager in telegraph office in Cleveland, Ohio. Afterwards, he owned steamboats on Cayuga Lake from 1862 to 1863. From 1864 to 1869 he was a bank official with the First National Bank of Ithaca.
He was married to Ellen A. Covert, a native of Auburn, New York on 9 November 1852. They had four boys together between 1855 and 1874.
He was a director of the Western Union Telegraph Company, which had been co-founded by his father, from 1868 to 1876 and was its Vice President from 1870 to 1876. He was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1868, but was defeated by Democrat Allen C. Beach. He was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as Surveyor of the Port of New York.
From 1870 to 1878 he was chairman of the state Republican Party. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1873 and was elected Speaker, one of the very few times a first-term member was chosen. He was influential at the 1876 Republican National Convention which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes. Hayes, upon becoming president, sought to oust Cornell from his position at the Custom House, but was initially frustrated by the Tenure of Office Act. He was eventually successful with Democratic help.
Cornell was Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882, elected in 1879. He established the state board of health and the state railroad commission. He also made women eligible to be school-officers. The division of his party by the conflict between the Stalwarts and the Half Breeds prevented his re-election. He wrote a biography of his father in 1884.
Although he lived in New York City during his latter years, Cornell died in Ithaca, New York, aged 72, and was interred with his father and mother in Sage Chapel on the Cornell University campus. His papers are held in Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Smith |
Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1873 |
Succeeded by James W. Husted |
| Preceded by Lucius Robinson |
Governor of New York 1880–1882 |
Succeeded by Grover Cleveland |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Hamilton Harris |
Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee 1870–1874 |
Succeeded by Edwin D. Morgan |
| Preceded by Edwin D. Morgan |
Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee 1875–1877 |
Succeeded by John F. Smyth |
| Preceded by John F. Smyth |
Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee 1878–1879 |
Succeeded by Chester A. Arthur |
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