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Oglesby, Richard James

soldier, lawyer, governor, United States senator, was born July 25, 1824, in Oldham county, Ky. He was elected to the Illinois state senate in 1860, and resigned to enter the volunteer service in 1861. At the commencement of the rebellion he was chosen colonel; afterward appointed brigadiergeneral; and in 1863 a major-general. He resigned in 1864, and was elected governor of Illinois. He was again elected governor in 1872, and a few months thereafter was elected to the United States senate for the term ending in 1879. In 1884 he was again elected governor of Illinois for a term of four years.