# Willis A. Gorman *American lawyer, soldier and politician; second Territorial Governor of Minnesota (1853–1857)* Willis Arnold Gorman (January 12, 1816 – May 20, 1876) was an American lawyer, soldier and politician. He served as the second territorial governor of [[Minnesota]] from May 15, 1853, to April 23, 1857. President [[Franklin Pierce]] appointed him.[^1] Before going to Minnesota, he represented Indiana in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. During the American Civil War he held the rank of general in the Union Army.[^1] As territorial governor, Gorman pursued a plan to relocate the territorial capital from St. Paul to St. Peter, a town where he owned land. The plan did not succeed. It stalled after legislator [[Joe Rolette]] disappeared with the bill.[^1] Gorman was a Democrat. After the war he practiced law in St. Paul, and from 1869 until his death he served as the city's attorney.[^1] ## Biography Gorman was born near Flemingsburg, Kentucky. His parents were David and Elizabeth Gorman, both of Irish descent, and he was their only child. In 1835 the family settled in Bloomington, Indiana. There he studied at Indiana University and then opened a law practice. In January 1836 he married Martha Stone in Bloomington.[^1] By 1837 Gorman held a clerkship in the Indiana State Senate. He sat in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1841 to 1844. In 1845 he went back to Indiana University and finished his law degree.[^1] In 1846 Gorman enlisted as a private to serve in the Mexican–American War. He received a major's commission in the 3rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the Battle of Buena Vista he commanded an independent rifle battalion and suffered a severe wound. When that enlistment ended, he signed on again and was named colonel of the 4th Indiana Infantry Regiment. Under General Joseph Lane he took part in the capture of Huamantla and in other campaigns. In 1848 he acted as civil and military governor of Puebla, and returned to Indiana shortly afterward.[^1] From March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853, Gorman represented Indiana in the United States House of Representatives.[^1] ### As governor Pierce appointed Gorman, a Democrat, as the second territorial governor of Minnesota. He held the office from May 15, 1853, to April 23, 1857.[^1] While in office he devised a plan to shift the territorial capital from St. Paul to St. Peter. He owned land at St. Peter that, by the Wikipedia account, would have suited a new capitol site. The effort was derailed after Joe Rolette, a member of the legislature, vanished with the bill.[^1] The record cited here does not establish the details of that disappearance beyond the Wikipedia account.[^1] ## Postwar Gorman left military service in 1864 and went back to practicing law in St. Paul. St. Paul voters chose him as city attorney in 1869, and he remained in the post until he died. He was buried in [[Oakland Cemetery (St. Paul, Minnesota)]].[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Willis Arnold Gorman, lawyer, soldier and politician, born January 12, 1816, died May 20, 1876; a Democrat.[^1] ### What - Second territorial governor of Minnesota, appointed by President Franklin Pierce.[^1] - General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[^1] ### When - Territorial governor of Minnesota, May 15, 1853, to April 23, 1857.[^1] - St. Paul city attorney from 1869 until his death in 1876.[^1] ### Where - Born near Flemingsburg, Kentucky; buried in Oakland Cemetery, St. Paul.[^1] ### How - Held the territorial governorship by presidential appointment. His capital-relocation plan stalled after Joe Rolette disappeared with the bill.[^1] ## See also - [[Governor of Minnesota]] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Willis A. Gorman* (retrieved 2026-10-25, revision 1373011155) — biographical account of Gorman's life, Indiana and Mexican–American War service, congressional term, Minnesota territorial governorship and St. Paul career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_A._Gorman