BUCKINGHAM, WILLIAM -ALFRED (1804 75). An American politician, best known as the `war Governor' of Connecticut. Ile was born in Lebanon, Conn.; received a common-school edu cation; taught school ; worked on his father's farm: and in 1825 began business for himself in Norwich, ultimately acemnulating a consid erable fortune as a dry-goods merchant and a manufacturer, first of carpets and afterwards of india-Nubber. lie took an active interest in politics; was elected mayor of Norwich in 1849, 1850, 185(3, and 1857: and from 1858 to 1860, when he declined renomination, was Governor of Connecticut. His term thus included the period of the Civil War, and he became widely known as one of the ablest and most energetic of the 'war Governors,' actively upholding the Administration throughout, and exerting himself to the utmost to raise and equip troops. In September. 1802. he wrote to the President. "This little State has already sent into the army, and has now at the rendezvous, more than one-half of her able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 years, and has more to offer if wanted;" and, largely owing to his influence, Connecticut sent into the field, before the close of the war, nearly 55.000 men out of a population
which numbered only between 460,000 and 465, 000 souls. From 1869 until his death, Bucking ham was a member of the United States Senate. Ile took an active interest in temperance reform, serving for some time as president of .the Ameri can Temperance Union, and in addition Was an influential member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. and presi dent of the first National Congregational Coun cil. He gave $25.000 to the Yale Theological Seminary, and was a liberal contributor to va rious philanthropic enterprises. Consult Mrs. Stowe, Men of Our Times (New York, 1868).