Richard Bishop (November 4, 1812 – March 2, 1893), also known as Richard M. Bishop and Papa Richard, was an American politician from the U.S. state of

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

. Bishop served as the 34th

governor of Ohio A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Biography

Richard Moore Bishop was born in

Fleming County, Kentucky Fleming County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,082. Its county seat is Flemingsburg. The county was formed in 1798 and named for Colonel John Fleming, an Indian fighter and early ...

, and received business training in his home state. Powell 1913 : 236-237 He came to

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

in 1848, and had a wholesale grocery business on the Public Landing as ''Bishop and Wells'' and later ''R. M. Bishop and Company''. In 1857 he became councilman, and 1858, president of the Council. He was

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

from 1859 to 1861, and declined re-nomination. Greve 1904 : 655 While Bishop was mayor, the

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accepted his invitation to visit the city, and, despite being a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, Bishop made the address of welcome to

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as he passed through on the way to his inauguration. He presided over the great Union meeting held the first year of the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

. From 1859 to 1869, Bishop was President of the Ohio Missionary State Society, and he also served as President of the General Christian Missionary Convention. He was also a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1873. He was a mover in promoting the

Cincinnati Southern Railway Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

. In 1877, the Democrats nominated Bishop for governor, and he defeated Republican William H. West and three other candidates with a plurality, but not majority of the votes. Smith 1898 : 379 Bishop served a single two-year term as governor, and was not re-nominated by his party. A Democratic writer summed up his administration thus: Bishop died at

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...

, March 2, 1893. Bishop was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop, Richard M. 1812 births 1893 deaths American Disciples of Christ American members of the Churches of Christ Burials at Spring Grove Cemetery Cincinnati City Council members Democratic Party governors of Ohio Mayors of Cincinnati Ohio Constitutional Convention (1873) People from Fleming County, Kentucky 19th-century American politicians