James A. Beaver

Infobox Governor
name= James A. Beaver


caption=
order=20th
office= Governor of Pennsylvania
term_start= January 18, 1887
term_end= January 20, 1891
lieutenant= William T. Davies
predecessor= Robert Emory Pattison
successor= Robert Emory Pattison
birth_date=birth date|1837|10|21|mf=y
birth_place=
death_date=death date and age|1914|1|31|1837|10|21|mf=y
death_place=
spouse=
profession= Attorney
party= Republican
religion=
order2= Acting President of the Pennsylvania State University
term_start2= 1906
term_end2= 1908
predecessor2= George W. Atherton
successor2= Edwin Erle Sparks

James Addams Beaver (21 October 1837–31 January 1914) was an American politician who served as Governor of Pennsylvania from 1887 to 1891. He also served as the Acting President of the Pennsylvania State University from 1906 to 1908.

Beaver, an attorney, served in the Union army during the American Civil War and rose to command the 148th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Ream's Station, in 1864, an injury that resulted his amputation of his right leg.

Following the war, Beaver pursued his law career, declining offers to run for public office until 1881 (including a spot as vice president on James Garfield's Republican ticket). He lost to Robert Pattison, but, because the new state constitution of 1874 prohibited governors from serving multiple consecutive terms, Beaver ran again and served as governor for the four years between Pattison's two non-consecutive terms. In 1895, he was appointed as one of the judges of the first state Superior Court, and office he held until his death in 1914.

Beaver Stadium and Beaver Hall, located on the University Park campus of Pennsylvania State University, as well as Beaver Avenue in State College, Pennsylvania is named in his honor.

External links

* [http://www.psu.edu/ur/about/markers/others/jamesbeaver.html General James A. Beaver Monument]
* [http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/presidents/presidnt.htm Penn State Presidents]
* [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/governors/beaver.asp?secid=31 Governors of Pennsylvania] (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission)