Governor Roswell Pettibone Flower

ROSWELL P. FLOWER, the thirty-third governor of New York, was born in Theresa, New York on August 7, 1835. His education was attained in the public schools of his native state. He established a business career with holdings in the banking and brokerage industries. Flower first entered politics as a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he held from 1881 to 1883 and 1889 to 1891. He next secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and was elected governor by a popular vote on November 3, 1891. During his tenure, a new banking law was sanctioned; the World’s Columbian Exposition was launched in New York City; and a constitutional amendment changed the governor’s term to two years instead of a three-year term. After leaving the governorship, Flower retired from political life. He continued to stay active in his various business dealings. Governor Roswell P. Flower passed away on May 12, 1899, and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, New York.