William P. Dillingham

William Paul Dillingham
United States Senator from Vermont
In office October 18, 1900[1] – July 12, 1923
Preceded by	Jonathan Ross
Succeeded by	Porter H. Dale
42nd Governor of Vermont
In office October 4, 1888 – October 2, 1890
Lieutenant	Urban A. Woodbury
Preceded by	Ebenezer J. Ormsbee
Succeeded by	Carroll S. Page
Vermont Commissioner of Taxes
In office December 1, 1882 – October 3, 1888
Preceded by	None (position created)
Succeeded by	James Loren Martin
Member of the Vermont Senate from Washington County
In office 1878–1882 Serving with Albert Dwinell
Preceded by	Eliakim Persons Walton Ira Richardson
Succeeded by	Willard S. Martin Edwin K. Jones
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Waterbury
In office 1884–1886
Preceded by	George W. Randall
Succeeded by	George E. Moody
In office 1876–1878
Preceded by	John B. Parker
Succeeded by	Leander H. Haines
Personal details
Born	(1843-12-12)December 12, 1843 Waterbury, Vermont
Died	July 12, 1923(1923-07-12) (aged 79) Montpelier, Vermont
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary E. Shipman (1846 -- 1893)
Relations	Paul Dillingham (father) Matthew H. Carpenter (brother in law)
Profession	Lawyer

William Paul Dillingham (December 12, 1843 – July 12, 1923) was an American attorney and politician from the state of Vermont. A Republican and the son of Congressman and Governor Paul Dillingham, William P. Dillingham served as governor from 1888 to 1890 and United States Senator from 1900 until his death.

Dillingham was born in Waterbury, Vermont, in 1843, and attended schools in Vermont and New Hampshire. He studied law with his brother in law, Matthew Hale Carpenter, attained admission to the bar, and practiced in Waterbury and Montpelier.

Groomed for a political career from an early age, Dillingham served as Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs (chief assistant to the governor) during his father's term and that of Asahel Peck, State's Attorney of Washington County, and member of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont State Senate. He was elected governor in 1888 and served one two-year term.

In 1900, Dillingham won election to the United States Senate, replacing Jonathan Ross, who had been appointed as a temporary replacement following the death of incumbent Justin Smith Morrill. Dillingham served in the Senate until his death, and was chairman of several committees during his tenure. As head of a commission that studied immigration, he argued that Eastern and Southern European immigrants posed a threat to the country's stability and growth, and that immigration from those areas should be curbed in the future.

Dillingham died in Montpelier in 1923 and was buried at Hope Cemetery in Waterbury.