Governor Alexander Hamilton Holley

ALEXANDER HAMILTON HOLLEY, Connecticut’s 23rd governor was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, on August 12, 1804. He was educated in the public school systems in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Holley went into his father’s business, and in 1854, became president of the Holley Manufacturing Company, a position he held for life. He also served as director and president of the Salisbury Iron Bank, and he was director of the Connecticut Western Railroad. Holley served in the state militia, rising through the ranks to division inspector. He entered politics in 1844, serving as a delegate to the Whig National Convention. He was lieutenant governor of Connecticut in 1854, and was elected governor in 1857. During his tenure, the Supreme Court ruled on the Dred Scott case, with both the legislature and the governor criticizing it and citing it to Democratic pro-slavery scheming. Holley’s administration also endorsed the requirement for recently naturalized citizens to wait one year before being eligible to vote. Governor Holley was not renominated, and retired from public service. He died on October 2, 1887, and is buried in the Salisbury Cemetery.