Washington Governor. He served as the eighth governor of Washington state from 1913 to 1919. He immigrated to the United States in 1884 with his parents at the age of 14. He began his early career as an iron molder in his brother's factory, and worked in the real estate and insurance fields before becoming interested in politics. At the age of 23 he ran for elective office, winning a seat on the Tacoma City Council in 1894. Shortly thereafter he became interested in state politics, managing John R. Rogers gubernatorial campaign for the state's highest executive office. Following Rogers victory in the November 1896 general election, he was appointed by the new governor as chairman of the State Board of Control, responsible for overseeing the state's welfare institutions. In 1900 he joined the Democratic Party after serving previously as a member of the Populist Party. Viewed as a rising star within the party, he defeated Republican challenger Marion E. Hay in the 1911 election, becoming the only person of foreign birth to occupy the governor's mansion. Four years later, he was re-elected to office, defeating Henry McBride, who had served as the state's lieutenant governor before being sworn in as governor following the death of John R. Rogers. As governor he was committed to agricultural assistance, irrigation and reclamation projects, and vetoed legislation that would have denied civil rights to radical members of the International Workers of the World. He became the third governor to die in office, along with John R. Rogers and Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove. He died at Seattle's Swedish Hospital, one day shy of his 49th birthday as a result of heart and kidney disease. He was succeeded in office by Louis F. Hart.
Washington Governor. He served as the eighth governor of Washington state from 1913 to 1919. He immigrated to the United States in 1884 with his parents at the age of 14. He began his early career as an iron molder in his brother's factory, and worked in the real estate and insurance fields before becoming interested in politics. At the age of 23 he ran for elective office, winning a seat on the Tacoma City Council in 1894. Shortly thereafter he became interested in state politics, managing John R. Rogers gubernatorial campaign for the state's highest executive office. Following Rogers victory in the November 1896 general election, he was appointed by the new governor as chairman of the State Board of Control, responsible for overseeing the state's welfare institutions. In 1900 he joined the Democratic Party after serving previously as a member of the Populist Party. Viewed as a rising star within the party, he defeated Republican challenger Marion E. Hay in the 1911 election, becoming the only person of foreign birth to occupy the governor's mansion. Four years later, he was re-elected to office, defeating Henry McBride, who had served as the state's lieutenant governor before being sworn in as governor following the death of John R. Rogers. As governor he was committed to agricultural assistance, irrigation and reclamation projects, and vetoed legislation that would have denied civil rights to radical members of the International Workers of the World. He became the third governor to die in office, along with John R. Rogers and Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove. He died at Seattle's Swedish Hospital, one day shy of his 49th birthday as a result of heart and kidney disease. He was succeeded in office by Louis F. Hart.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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