William Francis White (1816 – May 16, 1890) was an Irish-American pioneer, merchant, farmer, author and politician who served two terms as a California Bank Commissioner from 1879 to 1887.[1]

William F. White
California Bank Commissioner
In office
November 1, 1879 – November 1, 1887
Appointed byWilliam Irwin
Preceded byJames T. Murphy
Succeeded byJames A. Thompson
Personal details
Born
William Francis White

1816 (1816)
County Limerick, Ireland
DiedMay 16, 1890(1890-05-16) (aged 73–74)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Resting placePajaro Valley Memorial Park
NationalityIreland
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations
Workingmen's (1878–1879)
Spouse
Francis J. Russell
(m. 1849)
Children8, including Stephen
RelativesGerald Griffin (uncle)
Stephen Mallory (cousin-in-law)
EducationOxford Academy
OccupationPioneer, merchant, farmer, author, politician

In 1878, he was elected a delegate to California's Second Constitutional Convention on the Workingmen's ticket, representing Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.[2] The next year, he was the party's nominee for Governor of California, coming in third place behind Democrat Hugh J. Glenn and Republican George Clement Perkins.[3] After his loss, he was appointed a State Bank Commissioner by outgoing Governor William Irwin, serving in that position until 1887.[4]

He was the father of U.S. Senator Stephen M. White.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Harrison, E. S. (1892). History of Santa Cruz County, California. San Francisco: Pacific Press Publishing Association. pp. 301–302.
  2. ^ Vivian, T. J.; Waldron, D. G. (1878). Biographical sketches of the delegates to the convention to frame a new constitution for the State of California, 1878. San Francisco: Francis & Valentine. p. 141.
  3. ^ "William F. White". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Wm. F. White Dead". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento. 13 May 1890. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ Griffin, Geo. Butler (June 1, 1889). "Los Angeles Biographic Sketches: Hon. Stephen M. White". The Overland Monthly. San Francisco, CA: Overland Monthly Company. p. 4 – via Google Books.
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