# William Rainey Marshall *Fifth governor of Minnesota (1866–1870), Republican, Union officer in the Civil War and the Dakota War of 1862* William Rainey Marshall (October 17, 1825 – January 8, 1896) held office as the fifth [[Governor of Minnesota]] from January 8, 1866, to January 9, 1870.[^1] He belonged to the [[Republican Party (United States)]].[^1] Before taking office he was colonel of the 7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He served with it in the American Civil War and in the Dakota War of 1862, and he left the army with the brevet rank of brigadier general.[^1] During his two terms Marshall pressed the legislature to adopt a black suffrage amendment. The legislature rejected it twice before adopting it, and the amendment passed in 1868.[^3] Marshall County and the city of Marshall, both in [[Minnesota]], carry his name.[^4] ## Life and Early Career Marshall was born in Columbia, Missouri. He lived first in Illinois and then in Wisconsin, working as a lead miner and land surveyor.[^2] In 1848 he won election to the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1st Wisconsin Legislature as a Democrat. Joseph Bowron contested the seat and prevailed, because Marshall's home at St. Croix Falls lay west of the new state line, in [[Minnesota Territory]].[^2] In 1849 Marshall moved across the St. Croix River to St. Paul, where his young hardware business was soon based.[^2] He sat for one term in Minnesota's first territorial legislature. He also chaired the convention that organized the state's Republican Party.[^2] He kept surveying in Minnesota, and his work included the townsite of St. Anthony.[^2] At various times Marshall worked as a banker, dairy farmer, stock-raiser and newspaper publisher.[^2] He volunteered for both the Civil War and the Dakota War of 1862 and enlisted as a private in the 8th Minnesota. On August 28, 1862, he was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 7th Minnesota.[^2] He weighed a run for governor in 1863 but chose not to enter the race.[^2] He fought in many Dakota War engagements and became colonel of the regiment on November 6, 1863.[^2] The regiment then went to Missouri under Andrew Jackson Smith and joined the pursuit of Sterling Price. Smith's command was later attached to George H. Thomas's army near Nashville.[^2] Colonel Sylvester G. Hill was killed on the opening day of the battle of Nashville. Marshall then took command of Hill's brigade and led it for the rest of the battle.[^2] He kept brigade command after the transfer to Mobile, Alabama, and fought in the Battle of Fort Blakeley.[^2] He was afterward brevetted brigadier general.[^1] ## Governor Marshall won the governorship in 1865 and again in 1867.[^3] In office he urged the legislature more than once to pass a black suffrage amendment. Legislators voted it down twice before adopting it, and the amendment passed in 1868.[^3] When it was adopted, Marshall declared that the "free young state of Minnesota" is "now altogether free."[^3] The state grew quickly in the post-war years of his administration. Its population doubled to 350,000, its railroad mileage grew fourfold, and its commerce expanded.[^3] ## Later life After his governorship Marshall worked in private and public roles as an attorney, a banker, and a railroad and land commissioner.[^4] While living in St. Paul he practiced law in partnership with Jude Kerr and Robertson Howard. His later business ventures failed, and his health declined.[^4] He moved to California in 1894. He died in Pasadena two years later, on January 8, 1896, and was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Saint Paul.[^4] He was an adherent of Swedenborgianism.[^4] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - William Rainey Marshall, Republican, fifth governor of Minnesota.[^1] ### What - Colonel of the 7th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War and the Dakota War of 1862; brevet brigadier general.[^1] - As governor, urged adoption of a black suffrage amendment, which passed in 1868.[^3] ### When - Born October 17, 1825.[^1] - Lieutenant colonel of the 7th Minnesota on August 28, 1862; colonel on November 6, 1863.[^2] - Governor from January 8, 1866, to January 9, 1870.[^1] - Died January 8, 1896.[^4] ### Where - Born in Columbia, Missouri; settled in St. Paul in 1849; died in Pasadena, California; buried at Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul.[^2][^4] ### How many - Minnesota's population doubled to 350,000 during his administration.[^3] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *William Rainey Marshall* (revision 1380023603, retrieved 2026-10-25), lead section. It establishes his birth and death dates, his term as fifth governor, his party, his command of the 7th Minnesota and his brevet rank. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rainey_Marshall [^2]: Wikipedia, *William Rainey Marshall* (revision 1380023603, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Life and Early Career". It establishes his birthplace, his contested 1848 Wisconsin seat, his 1849 move to St. Paul, his territorial service, his military appointments and dates, and his service at Nashville and Fort Blakeley. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rainey_Marshall [^3]: Wikipedia, *William Rainey Marshall* (revision 1380023603, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Governor". It establishes his 1865 and 1867 election wins, the suffrage amendment (passed 1868), his quoted statement, and the population, railroad and commercial figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rainey_Marshall [^4]: Wikipedia, *William Rainey Marshall* (revision 1380023603, retrieved 2026-10-25), section "Later life". It establishes his post-office occupations, his law partnership, his 1894 move to California, his death in Pasadena on January 8, 1896, his burial, his religion, and the places named for him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Rainey_Marshall