# Gordon E. Cole *American lawyer and Republican politician who served as Minnesota Attorney General from 1860 to 1866* Gordon Earl Cole (June 18, 1833 – October 4, 1890), a Republican and a lawyer by profession, held the office of [[Minnesota Attorney General]] for three terms, from 1860 to 1866.[^1] A year after his 1855 marriage he moved to [[Minnesota Territory]] and made his home in Faribault.[^2] Besides the attorney generalship, Cole sat in both chambers of the state legislature, served one term as mayor of Faribault, sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1879, and lost an 1884 contest for the United States Senate to Dwight M. Sabin.[^2] In his law practice, railroads and government land grants became his specialty.[^2] ## Early life and education Cole's birthplace was Cheshire, Massachusetts, and his birth year was 1833.[^3] After schooling at Suffield Academy, he read law at a number of schools and law offices in New York. One of his teachers was George N. Briggs.[^3] Harvard Law School granted him a degree in 1854, after which he returned to Cheshire and set up a practice there.[^3] ## Career in Minnesota Cole wed Stella C. Whipple in 1855. A year later the couple moved west to Minnesota Territory, making their home in Faribault, [[Minnesota]].[^2] He based his practice in Faribault and went to [[Minneapolis]] and St. Paul from time to time to try cases.[^2] For a time he practiced in Faribault with John Higley Case, and that partnership was later dissolved.[^2] Litigation involving railroads and government land grants became his area of specialization.[^2] Cole was active in Republican politics in the state and held the attorney general's office for three terms, 1860 to 1866.[^2] Voters twice sent him to the state [[Legislature]]: to the [[Minnesota Senate]] in 1864 and to the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] in 1882.[^2] He also sat on a number of state agencies and boards, and Faribault elected him mayor for one term.[^2] In 1879 he was among the leading candidates for the Republican nomination for [[governor]].[^2] In 1884 he lost a race for the [[United States Senate]] to Dwight M. Sabin.[^2] ## Death Cole fell ill in 1890 and set out for Europe with his daughter, intending to obtain medical treatment in Germany.[^4] He died in London on October 4, 1890, before reaching his destination.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gordon E. Cole* (revision 1365577093, retrieved 2026-10-25), lead section — gives his full name, his dates of birth and death, his party and profession, and his service as Minnesota Attorney General from 1860 to 1866. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_E._Cole [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gordon E. Cole* (revision 1365577093, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Career in Minnesota" — covers his 1855 marriage, his move to Minnesota Territory and Faribault, his partnership with John Higley Case, his railroad and land-grant specialty, his three terms as Attorney General, his 1864 Senate and 1882 House elections, his board service and mayoralty, his 1879 gubernatorial bid, and his 1884 Senate race against Dwight M. Sabin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_E._Cole [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gordon E. Cole* (revision 1365577093, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Early life and education" — covers his 1833 birth in Cheshire, Massachusetts, his schooling at Suffield Academy, his legal study in New York including under George N. Briggs, and his 1854 Harvard Law School graduation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_E._Cole [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Gordon E. Cole* (revision 1365577093, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Death" — reports his 1890 illness, his trip with his daughter toward Germany for treatment, and his death in London on October 4, 1890. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_E._Cole