Alonzo B. Cornell

Alonzo B. Cornell was a prominent American businessman and politician who served as the 27th Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882. The son of Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University and a co-founder of the Western Union telegraph company, he leveraged his business acumen into a significant political career within the Republican Party. His tenure as governor was marked by fiscal conservatism and clashes with the Stalwart faction of his own party, led by Roscoe Conkling. Beyond politics, he was a key figure in the development of the telegraph industry and financial institutions in New York.

Early life and family

Alonzo Barton Cornell was born on January 22, 1832, in Ithaca, New York, to Ezra Cornell and Mary Ann Wood. He was educated at the Ithaca Academy and from a young age was immersed in his father's burgeoning business ventures, including the New York & Erie Telegraph Company. In 1852, he married Ellen A. Covert, with whom he had four children. His family's legacy was cemented with the founding of Cornell University in 1865, an institution established through his father's endowment and the Morrill Land-Grant Acts.

Business career

Cornell's business career was deeply intertwined with the telegraph industry. He began working for the Western Union Telegraph Company, where his father was a major figure, and quickly ascended to positions of responsibility. He served as the superintendent of the Western Union office in New York City and later became a director of the company. His financial interests expanded to include banking, and he served as president of the First National Bank of Ithaca. He was also involved with the Ithaca Gas Light Company and held directorships in several railroads, solidifying his status as a leading industrialist in Upstate New York.

Political career

Entering politics as a Republican, Cornell held several appointed positions, including a role on the New York City Board of Police Commissioners in 1870. His political rise was closely associated with the Stalwart faction of Roscoe Conkling. He was elected as the 25th Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1873, serving under Governors John Adams Dix and Samuel J. Tilden. In 1878, he was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, a position he held during the 1880 Republican National Convention in Chicago. His gubernatorial nomination that year came after a bitter intraparty struggle between the Stalwarts and the Half-Breeds supporting James G. Blaine.

Governorship of New York

Elected in 1879, Cornell's term as governor from 1880 to 1882 was defined by strict economy in state government. He vetoed numerous appropriations bills, earning the ire of legislators from both parties, including his former ally Roscoe Conkling. He signed legislation creating the New York State Board of Health and oversaw the early construction of the New York State Capitol in Albany. His administration also dealt with labor unrest, including a major strike on the New York Central Railroad. His independent stance fractured his relationship with the Stalwart machine, contributing to his defeat for renomination at the 1882 state convention. He was succeeded by Democrat Grover Cleveland.

Later life and death

After leaving the New York State Capitol, Cornell returned to his business pursuits in Ithaca. He remained active in the management of Cornell University as a trustee and continued his involvement with the First National Bank of Ithaca and other enterprises. He published a biography of his father, *"True and Firm: A Biography of Ezra Cornell,"* in 1884. Alonzo B. Cornell died in Ithaca on October 15, 1904, and was interred at the Lake View Cemetery.

Category:1832 births Category:1904 deaths Category:Governors of New York (state) Category:New York (state) Republicans Category:American businesspeople in banking Category:Cornell University people