George L. Lilley

George Leavens Lilley
63rd Governor of Connecticut
In office January 6, 1909 – April 21, 1909
Lieutenant	Frank B. Weeks
Preceded by	Rollin S. Woodruff
Succeeded by	Frank B. Weeks
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's at-large district
In office March 4, 1903 – January 5, 1909
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	John Q. Tilson
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1901–1903
Personal details
Born	August 3, 1859 Oxford, Massachusetts
Died	April 21, 1909 (aged 49) Hartford, Connecticut
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Anna E. H. Steele Lilley (1861-1940)
Children	Frederick Lilley, John Lilley, Theodore Lilley
Alma mater	Worcester Technical Institute
Profession	realtor, politician
Religion	Congregationalist

George Leavens Lilley (August 3, 1859 – April 21, 1909) was a United States Representative and the 63rd Governor of Connecticut.

Biography

Born in Oxford, Massachusetts Lilley was the son of John Leavens Lilley and Caroline W. (Adams) Lilley. He attended the common schools of Oxford, the Worcester High School, and Worcester Technical Institute. He moved to Waterbury, Connecticut in 1881 and engaged in mercantile pursuits and the real estate business. He married Anna E. H. Steele on June 17, 1884.^[1] The couple had three sons, Frederick, John, and Theodore.^[2]

Career

A member of Connecticut Republican State Committee from 1901 to 1909; Lilley also served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1901 to 1903.

Lilley was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth, and Sixtieth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1903 to January 5, 1909.^[3] He did not seek renomination in 1908, having become a candidate for Governor. By resolution of the House of January 20, 1909, the seat was declared to have been vacated on January 6, 1909 for the reason that incumbent had entered upon the duties of the office of Governor of Connecticut the preceding day.^[4]

Lilley won the 1908 Republican gubernatorial nomination, and was elected Governor of Connecticut. During his short tenure, he increased funding for the public school system and appropriations were budgeted for a statewide movement against tuberculosis. He also endorsed governing monopolies and establishing a public service commission, but both issues were defeated by the legislature.^[5]

Death

Lilley was Governor of Connecticut from January 6, 1909 until his death on April 21, 1909 in Hartford at age 49 years, 261 days, from causes that are unknown; he was interred at Riverside Cemetery, Waterbury, Connecticut.^[6] He was a member of the Union League.

References

1. "George L. Lilley". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
2. "George L. Lilley". NNDB Soylent Publications. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
3. "George L. Lilley". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
4. "George L. Lilley". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
5. "George L. Lilley". National Governors Association. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
6. "George L. Lilley". Find a Grave. Retrieved 12 December 2012.

External links

• United States Congress. "George L. Lilley (id: L000308)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• George L. Lilley at Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard
• NNDB Soylent Communicationa
• Govtrack US Congress