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Thomas A. Osborn
6th Governor of Kansas
In office
January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877
LieutenantElias S. Stover
Melville J. Salter
Preceded byJames M. Harvey
Succeeded byGeorge T. Anthony
2nd Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
In office
January 12, 1863 – January 9, 1865
GovernorThomas Carney
Preceded byJoseph Pomeroy Root
Succeeded byJames McGrew
Personal details
BornOctober 26, 1836
Crawford County, Pennsylvania
DiedFebruary 4, 1898 (aged 61)
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJulia Delehay
ProfessionPrinter, attorney, U.S. marshal, diplomat

Thomas Andrew Osborn (October 26, 1836 – February 4, 1898) was an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He served as the sixth Governor of Kansas, from 1873 to 1877.

Biography

Osborn was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. As a young man, he was apprenticed as a printer, from which he supported himself through Allegheny College. In 1856, he began to study law under a Meadville judge and was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1857. He married Julia Delahey and they had one child.[1]

In November 1857, Osborn moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he became a compositor for the Herald of Freedom. The following year, Osborn was practicing law in Elwood, Kansas, and was known to be a Republican and Free-State supporter. He was elected to the state senate in December 1859. He became president of the senate in 1861 and presided over impeachment proceedings of the governor.[2] Osborn was appointed U. S. Marshall and held that post from 1865 to 1867.

Osborn was Governor of Kansas from 1873 to 1877, having been first elected in 1872 and then re-elected in 1874.[1] Subsequently, he was appointed as Minister to Chile, serving from 1877 to 1881, and as Minister to Brazil, serving from 1881 to 1885.[3] In 1892, he was put forth as a primary challenger to Kanza Indian, and attorney, Charles Curtis, who later became Vice President of the United States.[4]

Osborn's wife died in 1892. In 1898, he was engaged to Marguerite Fowler Richmond of Meadville, Pennsylvania. While awaiting their wedding, Osborn died and his body was returned to Kansas. He is buried in Topeka Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas.

References

  1. ^ a b "Thomas A. Osborn". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  2. ^ "Thomas A. Osborn". Legends of Kansas. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Thomas A. Osborn". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Curtis, Charles (n.d.). Autobiography. Topeka, KS: Archived Materials, Kansas State Historical Society.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Kansas
1872, 1874
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
1863–1865
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Kansas
January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877
Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Minister to Chile
August 28, 1877 – July 25, 1881
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Minister to Brazil
December 17, 1881 – July 11, 1885
Succeeded by