William F. Sheehan
William Francis Sheehan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 14 March 1917 (aged 57) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, politician |
| Years active | 1881–1917 |
| Known for | Speaker of the New York State Assembly (1891), Lieutenant Governor of New York (1892–1894) |
William Francis Sheehan (November 6, 1859 – March 14, 1917) was a prominent American attorney and Democratic political figure from New York. He is recognized for his roles as Speaker of the New York State Assembly in 1891 and as Lieutenant Governor of New York between 1892 and 1894.
Biography
Sheehan was born in Buffalo, New York and received his education through the city's public school system as well as at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. After studying law, he gained admission to the bar in 1881 and initially practiced law in Buffalo before moving his practice to New York City.
His entry into politics began when he worked as a clerk for his brother John Sheehan, who held the position of City Controller in Buffalo. Representing Erie County's 1st District, he served in the New York State Assembly from 1885 until 1891. During this period, he held the position of Minority Leader from 1886 to 1890 and was elected Speaker in 1891. In this capacity, he facilitated important appointments for his associates, including his brother and his legal partner Charles F. Tabor.
Following his election as Lieutenant Governor in 1891, Sheehan partnered with Alton B. Parker to establish a successful law firm in New York City. He played an active role within the Democratic Party’s leadership, participating on the New York State Democratic Committee from 1889 to 1893, serving on the Democratic National Committee in 1891 and again in 1896, and acting as a delegate at the 1912 Democratic National Convention.
In the U.S. Senate election of 1911, Sheehan was nominated by the Democrats but was opposed by a faction led by State Senator Franklin D. Roosevelt. Additionally, he contributed as a delegate during the 1915 New York State Constitutional Convention.
Sheehan passed away at age 57 on March 14, 1917, at his home in Manhattan. His funeral took place at St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York), and he was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery located in Lackawanna, New York.
Marriage
He was married to Blanche Nellany, who was the sister of Charles V. Nellany. A portrait of Blanche painted in 1903 by Swiss-American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury is preserved at the Buffalo History Museum.
External links
- Struggle for State patronage, NYT, September 13, 1887
- Political Graveyard
- Senatorial election, New York Times, March 20, 1911
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Articles without Wikidata item
- 1859 births
- 1917 deaths
- Lieutenant governors of New York (state)
- New York (state) lawyers
- Politicians from Buffalo, New York
- Speakers of the New York State Assembly
- Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
- St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute alumni
- Trust Company of America people
- 19th-century American lawyers
- 19th-century members of the New York State Legislature