William Allen (governor)

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For other persons named William Allen, see William Allen (disambiguation).

Image:William Allen governor - Brady-Handy.jpg

William Allen (December 18 or December 27, 1803 – July 11, 1879) was a Democratic Representative and Senator from the U.S. state of Ohio, as well as Governor of Ohio.

Allen was born in Edenton, North Carolina. His sister, Mary Granberry Allen, married Pleasant Thurman, and their son, Allen G. Thurman, followed in his uncle's footsteps, becoming a lawyer and politician. Allen moved to Chillicothe, Ohio in 1819 and he and his sister lived there together.

He served as a Representative from Ohio from 1832 to 1834, when he lost a bid for re-election, and Senator from Ohio from 1837 to 1849, losing a bid for re-election in 1848. Allen then retired to his farm, "Fruit Hill", near Chillicothe, Ohio, and did not return to public service for nearly a quarter century. He served as Governor of Ohio from 1874 to 1876. He unsuccessfully sought a second two-year term in an 1875 election.

William Allen is one of Ohio's statues donated to the National Statuary Collection. He stands in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol

Preceded by: Samuel Finley Vinton	U.S. Representative from Ohio, 7th District 1833–1835	Succeeded by: William K. Bond
Preceded by: Thomas Ewing	United States Senator (Class 3) from Ohio 1837–1849	Succeeded by: Salmon P. Chase
Preceded by: Edward F. Noyes	Governor of Ohio 1874–1876	Succeeded by: Rutherford B. Hayes