page_title: William Claflin
hierarchical_section_title: William Claflin
caption_attribution_description: William Claflin. Library of Congress description: "Claflin, Hon. Wm of Mass"
context_page_description: William Claflin was an American politician, industrialist and philanthropist from Massachusetts. He served as the 27th Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1869–1872 and as a member of the United States Congress from 1877–1881. He also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1868–1872, serving as a moderating force between the Radical and moderate wings of the Republican Party. His name is given to Claflin University in South Carolina, a historically black college founded with funding from him and his father.
  Claflin was educated at Brown University, and worked in his father's shoe manufacturing business before becoming a partner in it. An opponent of slavery, he helped establish the state's Free Soil Party before dominating the state's Republican Party establishment in the 1860s. He supported a number of social reforms, including increased property and voting rights for women, and was the state's first governor to actively support full women's suffrage. He supported many charitable causes, and promoted the development of the village Newtonville, where his country estate was located.
context_section_description: William Claflin (March 6, 1818 – January 5, 1905) was an American politician, industrialist and philanthropist from Massachusetts.  He served as the 27th Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1869–1872 and as a member of the United States Congress from 1877–1881.  He also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1868–1872, serving as a moderating force between the Radical and moderate wings of the Republican Party.  His name is given to Claflin University in South Carolina, a historically black college founded with funding from him and his father.
  Claflin was educated at Brown University, and worked in his father's shoe manufacturing business before becoming a partner in it.  An opponent of slavery, he helped establish the state's Free Soil Party before dominating the state's Republican Party establishment in the 1860s.  He supported a number of social reforms, including increased property and voting rights for women, and was the state's first governor to actively support full women's suffrage.  He supported many charitable causes, and promoted the development of the village Newtonville, where his country estate was located.
caption: Portrait by Brady-Handy studio, 1870s
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