Arthur Ingram Boreman
The First Governor of West Virginia
A resident of Wood County, Arthur Boreman served as the president of the Second Wheeling Convention in 1861.On May 6–7, 1863, he attended the Constitutional Union Party Convention in Parkersburg and became its nominee to be governor of the new state. On May 28, 1863, he was elected to a two-year term without opposition. In his inaugural address in Wheeling on June 20, 1863, Governor Boreman asserted that he would assist in the founding of a system of public education throughout the state that would provide all children, regardless of economic level, schooling to prepare them for respectable positions in society. He backed his words with action during the next six years, during which he was reelected two times. A public school system was established, and with the aid of the Morrill Act, which had been enacted by the federal government in 1862, West Virginia University was created on February 7, 1867.
Governor Boreman married wedding Laurane Tanner Bullock from Wheeling in 1864. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Alexander Martin, who later became West Virginia University’s first president in 1867.
As a U.S. Senator, Boreman supported the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race.
First Public School System in West Virginia
The first public school system in the state was established under Governor Boreman’s leadership. Reverend Alexander Martin as instrumental in the passage of state public schools legislation in 1863.Under the terms of the Morrill Land-Grant College Act, West Virginia’s legislature founded the Agricultural College of West Virginia in 1867. It was renamed West Virginia University a year later. Martin was named the university’s president, serving from 1867–1875.Of Note
President of the Second Wheeling Convention
First Governor of West Virginia
U.S. Senator of West Virginia
First Governor of West Virginia
U.S. Senator of West Virginia
About the Images
A portrait Arthur I. Boreman
The cover of Harper’s Weekly on July 6, 1861 featured the Wheeling Convention.
The ballot electing Boreman as governor of the new state of West Virginia.
The official coat of arms of the state of West Virginia bears the motto “Montani Semper Liberi” which means “Mountaineers are always free.”
The Agricultural College of West Virginia was a predecessor of West Virginia University. The school was founded as part of the Federal Land-Grant Act of 1862, which required military training for all male students. The name was changed to West Virginia University on December 4, 1868.
The cover of Harper’s Weekly on July 6, 1861 featured the Wheeling Convention.
The ballot electing Boreman as governor of the new state of West Virginia.
The official coat of arms of the state of West Virginia bears the motto “Montani Semper Liberi” which means “Mountaineers are always free.”
The Agricultural College of West Virginia was a predecessor of West Virginia University. The school was founded as part of the Federal Land-Grant Act of 1862, which required military training for all male students. The name was changed to West Virginia University on December 4, 1868.