Jeremiah McLain Rusk
| Jeremiah McLain Rusk | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 2nd United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office March 6, 1889 – March 6, 1893 |
|
| Preceded by | Norman J. Coleman |
| Succeeded by | Julius S. Morton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 17, 1830 Malta, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | November 21, 1893 (aged 63) Viroqua, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician, Banker, Farmer |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Union Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (brevet general) |
| Unit | 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Jeremiah McLain Rusk (June 17, 1830 – November 21, 1893) was the 15th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1882 to 1889.[1]
Biography [change]
Rusk was born in Malta, Ohio.[1] He was a member of the Republican Party. He began his life as a farmer, then became an innkeeper and finally became a banker before the Civil War.[2] During the war, he received a brevet appointment as a general and saw action with the 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.[1][2]
After the Civil War, he became a congressman in the United States House of Representatives.[1] There, he became chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions.[1] He was elected Governor of Wisconsin as a Republican in 1882.[1] His most noted act during his governorship was when he sent the National Guard into Milwaukee to keep the peace during the May Day Labor Strikes of 1886.[2] This led to the Bay View Tragedy, in which a number of workers were killed; Governor Rusk took most of the blame.[2]
In 1889 he resigned his post as governor and accepted the new cabinet position of Secretary of Agriculture in the Benjamin Harrison administration.[1] He lived, died and was buried in Viroqua, Wisconsin.[2]
References [change]
Other websites [change]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jeremiah McLain Rusk |
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-12
- Jeremiah McLain Rusk at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-12
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William E. Smith |
Governor of Wisconsin 1882– 1889 |
Succeeded by William D. Hoard |
| Preceded by Norman J. Coleman |
United States Secretary of Agriculture March 6, 1889– March 6, 1893 |
Succeeded by Julius S. Morton |
