George Willard

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George Willard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Preceded byAustin Blair
Succeeded byJonas H. McGowan
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
1866-1867
Personal details
BornMarch 20, 1824
Battle Creek, Michigan
Political partyRepublican

George Willard (March 20, 1824 – March 26, 1901) was a

U.S. House of Representatives and was also instrumental in opening the University of Michigan
to women.

Biography

Willard was born in

Episcopal Church in 1848. He served as rector of churches in Coldwater, Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo until 1863. He was a professor of Latin
at Kalamazoo College in 1863 and 1864 and engaged in newspaper work in Battle Creek.

He served as a member of the

admission of women to the University of Michigan. He introduced an unsuccessful motion to that effect in 1869, but was successful on January 5, 1870, when the Board passed his resolution stating that "the board of regents recognize the right of every resident of Michigan to the enjoyment of the privileges afforded by the university, and that no rule exists in any of the university statutes for the exclusion of any person from the university who possesses the requisite literary and moral qualifications."[1]

Willard was a member of the

Michigan State House of Representatives in 1866 and 1867. He was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1867 and a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1872. He was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 3rd congressional district to the 43rd and 44th United States Congresses
, serving from March 4, 1873, to March 3, 1877. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1876.

George Willard resumed newspaper work in Battle Creek, serving as editor and owner of the Battle Creek Journal until his death. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Ancestry

George Willard was a 4th great-grandson (7th generation descendant) of the Massachusetts colonist Simon Willard (1605–1676).

Notes

  1. ^ Perry 1902, p. 113

References

  • Perry, Belle (1902), Lucinda Hinsdale Stone: Her Life Story and Reminiscences, Detroit: Blinn,
    OCLC 4112832

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
United States Representative for the 3rd Congressional District of Michigan

1873 – 1877
Succeeded by