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Sixth Territorial Governor
Political Background:
William Alanson Howard trained as a cabinetmaker at Albion, New York, while going to school. After graduation from Middlebury Academy in Vermont, he taught for one year. He relocated to Michigan, was admitted to the bar in 1842, and practiced law in Detroit for twelve years. He was elected to Congress, and became a ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Howard suffered poor health all his life. He accepted the appointment of governor in hopes of improving his health. In the winter of 1879 he became very ill, and died in April 1880, of neuralgia of the heart and complications from lung trouble. He was the first territorial governor to die in office.
During his administration, Governor Howard was particularly concerned with charitable and penal institutions.
Howard was an attorney, and served in Congress prior to his appointment as Territorial Governor. He died in office.
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