# Charles A. Gilman *Minnesota Republican legislator, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and ninth lieutenant governor of Minnesota* Charles Andrew Gilman (February 9, 1833 – June 7, 1927) was a Republican legislator in Minnesota. He sat in both the [[Minnesota Senate]] and the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], presided over the House as Speaker, and became the state's ninth [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]].[^1] Before his legislative service he held county office in [[Benton County, Minnesota]] and headed the United States General Land Office at [[St. Cloud]]. He was lieutenant governor from 1880 to 1887. He then sought the Republican nomination for [[Governor of Minnesota]] twice without success, served as Minnesota State Librarian, and returned to the House for one term from 1915 to 1917.[^2] ## Life and career Gilman was a native of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, born in 1833 to Charles Gilman and Eliza Gilman, whose maiden name was Page. His family's New England roots went back to the 1630s. His schooling began at Gilmanton Academy and continued in East Andover, New Hampshire. He taught for a short period in several New Hampshire towns, then moved to Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, in 1855.[^3] Once in Minnesota, Gilman entered local politics and held the posts of register of deeds and county auditor of Benton County. He married Hester Cronk, who came from Belleville, Ontario, on January 1, 1857. In 1861 he was appointed to head the United States General Land Office at St. Cloud and moved to that city. He received further appointments to the post in 1866 and 1869. In the same years he pursued timber and mining interests in Minnesota, in Ontario, and farther west.[^4] Voters elected Gilman to the Minnesota Senate in 1867, and he held the seat until 1871. He won a House seat in 1875 and served there until 1880. From 1878 to 1879 he was Speaker. According to the Wikipedia account, railroad legislation occupied much of his work in both chambers, and he backed the development of the Great Northern Railway. He was elected as a Republican from a district that leaned strongly Democratic.[^5] Gilman held the lieutenant governorship from January 10, 1880, to January 4, 1887. He served under Governors [[John S. Pillsbury]] and Lucius Hubbard. He sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1886 and again in 1888 and lost both times. He was Minnesota State Librarian from 1894 to 1899. He returned to the House for a final term from 1915 to 1917. Gilman died on June 7, 1927.[^6] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles A. Gilman* (revision 1365523939, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead: full name, party, dates of birth and death, Speaker and ninth lieutenant governor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_A._Gilman [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles A. Gilman* (revision 1365523939, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Life and career": summary of county, federal, legislative, executive and later offices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_A._Gilman [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles A. Gilman* (revision 1365523939, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Life and career": birth, parents, family roots, schooling, teaching, move to Sauk Rapids in 1855. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_A._Gilman [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles A. Gilman* (revision 1365523939, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Life and career": Benton County offices, 1857 marriage, General Land Office appointments of 1861, 1866 and 1869, timber and mining interests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_A._Gilman [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles A. Gilman* (revision 1365523939, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Life and career": Senate 1867–1871, House 1875–1880, Speaker 1878–1879, railroad legislation, Democratic-leaning district. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_A._Gilman [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles A. Gilman* (revision 1365523939, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Life and career": lieutenant governorship January 10, 1880 – January 4, 1887, gubernatorial bids of 1886 and 1888, State Librarian 1894–1899, House 1915–1917, death June 7, 1927. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_A._Gilman