William Claflin

William Claflin
Portrait by Brady-Handy studio, 1870s
27th Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 7, 1869 – January 4, 1872
Lieutenant	Joseph Tucker
Preceded by	Alexander H. Bullock
Succeeded by	William B. Washburn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 8th district
In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	William W. Warren
Succeeded by	John W. Candler
27th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 4, 1866 – January 7, 1869
Governor	Alexander H. Bullock
Preceded by	Joel Hayden
Succeeded by	Joseph Tucker
4th Chairman of the Republican National Committee
In office 1868–1872
Preceded by	Marcus Lawrence Ward
Succeeded by	Edwin D. Morgan
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1849–1853
Personal details
Born	(1818-03-06)March 6, 1818 Milford, Massachusetts
Died	January 5, 1905(1905-01-05) (aged 86) Newton, Massachusetts
Political party	Free Soil Republican

William Claflin (March 6, 1818 – January 5, 1905) was an American politician, industrialist, and philanthropist from Massachusetts. He served as the 27th governor of Massachusetts from 1869 to 1872 and as a member of the United States Congress from 1877 to 1881. He also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1868 to 1872, serving as a moderating force between the Radical and moderate wings of the Republican Party. His name is given to Claflin University in South Carolina, a historically black college founded with funding from him and his father.

Claflin was educated at Brown University and worked in his father's shoe manufacturing business before becoming a partner in it. An opponent of slavery, he helped establish the state's Free Soil Party before dominating the state's Republican Party establishment in the 1860s. He supported a number of social reforms, including increased property and voting rights for women, and he was the state's first governor to actively support full women's suffrage.^[1] He supported many charitable causes and promoted the development of the village Newtonville, where his country estate was located.