William C. Bouck

William C. Bouck
13th Governor of New York
In office
January 1, 1843 – December 31, 1844
LieutenantDaniel S. Dickinson
Preceded byWilliam H. Seward
Succeeded bySilas Wright
Assistant Treasurer of the United States for the New York City Sub-Treasury
In office
August 8, 1846 – June 30, 1849
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byJohn Young
Member of the University of the State of New York Board of Regents
In office
February 3, 1845 – May 6, 1847
Preceded byJoseph Russell
Succeeded bySamuel Luckey
Member of the Erie Canal Commission
In office
March 21, 1821 – February 22, 1840
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byDavid Hudson
Member of the New York State Senate from the Middle District
In office
March 21, 1821 – December 31, 1822
Preceded byMulti-member Middle District
Succeeded byMulti-member 3rd District
Member of the New York State Assembly from Schoharie County
In office
January 1, 1813 – June 30, 1816
Serving with William Dietz (1813–1815)
Thomas Lawyer (1815–1816)
Peter A. Hilton (1816)
Preceded byHerman Hickcok
Peter A. Hilton
Succeeded byPeter A. Hilton
Isaac Barber
Aaron Hubbard
In office
July 1, 1817 – June 30, 1818
Serving with George H. Mann
Nathan P. Tyler
Preceded byPeter A. Hilton
Isaac Barber
Aaron Hubbard
Succeeded byAaron Hubbard
Jedediah Miller
Peter Swart Jr.
Sheriff of Schoharie County, New York
In office
March 10, 1812 – March 9, 1813
Preceded byStephen Lawrence
Succeeded byPeter Swart Jr.
Personal details
Born(1786-01-07)January 7, 1786
Fultonham, New York
DiedApril 19, 1859(1859-04-19) (aged 73)
Fulton, Schoharie County, New York
Resting placeMiddleburgh Cemetery,
Middleburgh, New York
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCatherine Lawyer (m. 1807–1859, his death)
RelationsJoseph Bouck (brother)
Children13 (including Gabriel Bouck)
OccupationFarmer
Military service
Branch/serviceNew York (state) New York Militia
Years of service1809–1822
RankColonel
Unit28th Brigade
113th Regiment
Commands18th Regiment

William Christian Bouck (January 7, 1786 – April 19, 1859) was an American politician from New York. He was the 13th Governor of New York, from 1843 to 1844.

A native of Fultonham, New York, Bouck was educated in the local schools while working on his family's farm and became a farmer himself. Originally a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and later a Democrat, he began a government and politics career with election as town clerk of Fulton (1807–1808), town supervisor (1808–1809) and sheriff of Schoharie County (1812–1813). Bouck served in the militia from 1809 to 1822 and rose through the ranks to become commander of New York's 18th Regiment with the rank of colonel.

As Bouck's career progressed, he served in the New York State Assembly (1814–1816, 1817–1818) and New York State Senate (1821–1822). From 1821 to 1840, Bouck served on the Erie Canal Commission, and during his long tenure, he oversaw construction of the western portion of the canal and several branch canals.

In 1842, Bouck was elected governor, and he served from 1843 to 1844. His term was largely occupied with responding to the Anti-Rent War, and he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1844. After leaving office, Bouck served on the state Board of Regents (1845 to 1847) and from 1846 to 1849 was Assistant Treasurer of the United States at the New York City sub-treasury.

Bouck died in Fulton, New York, on April 19, 1859. He was buried at Middleburgh Cemetery in Middleburgh, New York.


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