Sheehan, William F. (William Francis), 1859-1917

Buffalo-born lawyer and politician; served in the Erie County Legislature and New York State Senate.

William F. Sheehan (1895-1917) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Born in Buffalo, New York, he graduated from St. Joseph's College and was admitted to the bar in 1881. He practiced in Buffalo from 1881 to 1895 and in New York City from 1895 until his death. He directed several companies, and served in the New York State Assembly from 1885 to 1891, holding the post of Speaker in 1891. Sheehan was Lieutenant Governor of New York State from 1892 to 1895. He was very active in Democratic politics all his life on both the state and national levels. He was a member of the Democratic State Committee from 1889 to 1893 and of the Democratic National Committee in 1891 and 1896; he was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from New York twice (1892, 1912) and to the New York state constitutional convention in 1915.