William Goebel is best remembered for being the only state governor in the United States to be assassinated while serving in office. He was born in Pennsylvania to immigrants from Germany and moved to Covington, Kentucky (Kenton County) in 1863. Goebel was a German ethnic leader based in Covington before being elected to a vacant seat in the Kentucky Senate.
Controversy erupted after Goebel created an election law that gave the control of vote counting to the General Assembly. Republican William S. Taylor originally defeated Goebel in the 1899 gubernatorial election, but the Board of Elections eventually decided Goebel had won the most votes. Angry Republicans and nervous Democrats almost declared a civil war in Frankfort.
Despite the risk of being killed, Goebel walked in front of the Old State Capitol on January 30th and was shot in the chest multiple times. He was officially sworn in a day after being shot and died on February 3rd. The identity of the assassin is unknown, but most historians believe radical supporters of William S. Taylor plotted the assassination.
- Zsombor Gal
http://www.historyorb.com/countries/usa/kentucky
http://www.historykygovenors.com/williamgoebel.htm
http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_kentucky/col2-content/main-content-list/title_goebel_william.html
Controversy erupted after Goebel created an election law that gave the control of vote counting to the General Assembly. Republican William S. Taylor originally defeated Goebel in the 1899 gubernatorial election, but the Board of Elections eventually decided Goebel had won the most votes. Angry Republicans and nervous Democrats almost declared a civil war in Frankfort.
Despite the risk of being killed, Goebel walked in front of the Old State Capitol on January 30th and was shot in the chest multiple times. He was officially sworn in a day after being shot and died on February 3rd. The identity of the assassin is unknown, but most historians believe radical supporters of William S. Taylor plotted the assassination.
- Zsombor Gal
http://www.historyorb.com/countries/usa/kentucky
http://www.historykygovenors.com/williamgoebel.htm
http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_kentucky/col2-content/main-content-list/title_goebel_william.html