California State Officials Biographies 1911

GEORGE CLEMENT PERKINS

Submitted by Nancy Pratt Melton

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UNITED STATES SENATOR
GEORGE CLEMENT PERKINS (Republican), of Oakland, was born at Kennebunkport, 
Maine, in 1839; was reared on a farm, and attended public school until his 
thirteenth year, when he shipped on board a sailing ship for New Orleans, and 
followed the calling of a sailor on ships engaged in the European trade. In 1855 
he shipped "before the mast" on the sailing ship Galatea, bound for San 
Francisco, where he arrived in the autumn of that year. Since that time he has 
been engaged in mercantile business, banking, farming, mining, whale fishery, 
and steamship transportation. He has been president of the Chamber of Commerce 
of San Francisco; also of the San Francisco Art Association; is a director of 
the California Academy of Sciences and other public institutions. He has also 
been grand master of the grand lodge, F. A. A. M. of California; also grand 
commander of the grand commandery of the Knights Templar, State of California; 
he is also a member of the California commandery of the military order of the 
Loyal Legion. In 1869 he was elected to the State Senate, serving eight years; 
in 1879 he was elected Governor of California, serving until January, 1883; was 
appointed, July 24, 1893, United States Senator to fill, until the election of 
his successor, a vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Leland Stanford, and took 
his seat August 8, 1893. In January, 1895, having made a thorough canvass before 
the people of his State, he was elected by the Legislature on the first ballot 
to fill the unexpired term. In the fall election of 1896 he was a candidate 
before the people of California for reelection, and received the endorsement of 
the Republican county conventions that comprised a majority of the senatorial 
and assembly districts in the State. When the Legislature convened in joint 
convention (January, 1897) for the purpose of electing a United States Senator, 
he was reelected on the first ballot. In January, 1903, he was again reelected 
on the first ballot for the term of six years, receiving every vote of the 
Republican members of the Legislature. His election was made unanimous on motion 
of a Democratic member of the Legislature. Again, in 1909, he was reelected on 
the first ballot for another term of six years,  receiving every Republican vote 
except two, and at the same time receiving Democratic support. At the time of 
his election in 1897, 1903, and 1909 he was absent from the State attending to 
his Congressional duties in Washington. His term of service will expire March 3, 
1915.
 
Source: California Blue Book, or State Roster, 1911
Compiled by Frank C. Jordan, Secretary of State
Friend W. Richardson, Superintendent of State Printing, Sacramento, CA, 1913