Born in Kentucky in 1816, Willis A. Gorman moved west at an early age and eventually settled in Minnesota, where he played a prominent role in territorial politics. As the first governor of Minnesota after statehood, Gorman was instrumental in shaping the state's early history. In this biography, historian Cushman Kellogg Davis presents a detailed account of Gorman's life and career, highlighting his achievements as well as his controversies. With its focus on a pivotal figure in Minnesota's early development, this book offers a valuable perspective on the history of the American Midwest. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.