Wilson Shannon (February 24, 1802 – August 30, 1877) was a Democratic politician from Ohio and Kansas. He served as the 14th and 16th Governor of Ohio. He and was the first governor of Ohio born in the state. Shannon was the second governor of the Kansas Territory.
Shannon was a student at Ohio University and Translyvania University. He studied law. He became a lawyer in 1830.[1] He was the prosecuting attorney for Belmont County from 1833 to 1835.[1]
Kansas Territory
On August 10, 1855, President Franklin Pierce asked Shannon to become the governor of Kansas. He was governor from September 7, 1855 until August 18, 1856. Shannon sent the federal military to Kansas many times. He did this to stop violence.
In May 1856, a big pro-slavery army came to Lawrence, and they attacked the city. This was known as the "Sacking of Lawrence." Shannon did not try to stop them, and he did not guard the people of Lawrence or their property. Shannon lost control of Kansas, and he went to St. Louis, Missouri on June 23, 1856. He quit on August 18, 1856.
Later life and death
Shannon came back to Kansas after quitting. He was a lawyer in Lawrence, Lecompton, and Topeka, Kansas. He died on August 30, 1877. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence.
