William Allen (December 18 or 27, 1803 – July 11, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a Democratic Representative, Senator and 31st governor of Ohio.

WILLIAM ALLEN, the thirty-first governor of Ohio, was born in Edenton, North Carolina in 1803. His education was attained at the Chillicothe Academy in Ohio. He went on to study law, and then established his legal career in Chillicothe.

Despite being seventy years old, Allen agreed, winning by 817 votes, beating the reigning governor, Edward F. Noyes. Hoping to reinvigorate Ohio's economy, during his term, Allen reduced taxes and decreased state expenditures.

Allen was elected as Ohio's 31st Governor when he was 70 years old and served from 1874 to 1876. As Governor, he was an advocate of the unpopular Greenback Movement and threatened the use of Ohio Militia to quell rampant labor disputes and disturbances.

William Allen, congressman, governor of Ohio, lawyer, and nationally prominent Democratic leader, was born in Edenton, one of three natural sons of Nathaniel Allen (ca. 1755–1805) and Fanny Coulston.

William Allen was an American lawyer and politician who served as a Democratic Representative, Senator and 31st governor of Ohio.

At the age of 71, he became Ohio’s 31 st governor by beating the incumbent by only 817 votes. “Old Bill Allen” took his duties seriously and by nine-thirty each morning was in his executive offices. He examined every document carefully before it received his signature.

ALLEN, William, governor of Ohio, was born, at Edenton, Chowan county, N. C, in 1807, and being orphaned in the first year of his life was taken by his sister, Mrs. Thurman, mother of Allen G. Thurman, to Lynchburg, Va., where he received his education at a private school and at the Chillicothe academy. He studied law with Edward King, by whom ...

William Allen was an American politician. He served as a Senator and 31st Governor of Ohio. William Allen was born on December 18, 1803 in Edenton, North Carolina, United States. He was descended from Quaker forebears who were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania.

GOVERNORSHIP: 31st governor, 1874 - 1876 (one term) DIED: July 11, 1879 (Chillicothe, Ohio) FAST FACTS: Allen was a lawyer by training