Washington Territory. Governor (1859-1861 : Gholson)

Richard Dickerson Gholson was born near Culpeper, Va., in Jan. 1802. He was educated in Virginia, moved with his parents to Kentucky when a young man, and there he studied law. He served in the Mexican War (1846-1848). Gholson was an ardent supporter of James Buchanan, stumping the state of Kentucky for him in his presidential campaign. When Buchanan was elected, Gholson was rewarded with the governorship of Washington Territory. Gholson arrived in the territory early in July 1859. Less than three weeks later, Secretary of the Territory Charles Mason died. Mason had been territorial secretary for almost six years, spending about half that time as acting governor. Gholson served as both governor and secretary until Henry McGill was appointed to the latter office. McGill arrived in Olympia in Nov. 1859.

In May, 1860, Gholson went to Texas where he had family, and was counted in the U.S. Census of Texas (July 1860), as "Richard D. Gholson, Governor of Washington Territory." He is then thought to have returned to Kentucky, where he made an unsuccessful attempt to take that state out of the Union. He did not return to Washington State, and McGill served out his term for him. In Feb. 1859, northern Indians from British territory captured two schooners en route between Steilacoom and Port Townsend, and all of the members of the crews were killed or captured. Gholson wrote a proclamation authorizing the citizens to arm themselves and fit out ships for reprisals against the British for allowing the Indians to cross the boundary. The most important occurrence during Governor Gholson's term was the landing of U.S. troops on San Juan Island in July 1859, thus creating a crisis in the dispute with Great Britain over the possession of the San Juan Islands. Many gold rushes and "humbug" gold strikes took place during Gholson's term, which resulted in streams of prospectors heading into eastern Washington State. This influx put great pressure on the Indians in the area and caused a spurt of growth which made Walla Walla the largest town in the Territory. It also pointed up the problems of transportation into the interior of Washington State.