Alexander Randall

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Alexander Williams Randall

22nd United States Postmaster General
In office July 25, 1866 – March 4, 1869
Preceded by	William Dennison, Jr.
Succeeded by	John A. J. Creswell

Born	October 31, 1819 Ames, New York, USA
Died	July 26, 1872 Elmira, New York, USA
Political party	Republican
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Judge

Alexander Williams Randall (October 31, 1819 – July 26, 1872) was a lawyer, judge and politician from Wisconsin. He served as Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Randall was born in Ames, New York. His father Phineas was judge of the court of common pleas there from 1837 to 1841. Afterwards, the Randall family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where his father died in 1853. Randall studied law in Waukesha and was admitted to the bar. He began to practice law in 1840. Soon afterwards, he became postmaster of Waukesha, where he worked until he was elected to the state assembly in 1855.

As governor during the beginning of the Civil War, Randall raised eighteen regiments, ten artillery batteries, and three cavalry units before leaving office, exceeding Wisconsin's quota by 3,232 men. The Union Army created a camp in Madison, Wisconsin, called "Camp Randall" for the governor. (The camp was eventually absorbed by the campus of the University of Wisconsin, which named its football stadium Camp Randall Stadium in honor of the camp.)

In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Randall as U.S. Minister to the Vatican. President Johnson appointed him to be U.S. Postmaster General 1866 – 1869.

Preceded by Coles Bashford	Governor of Wisconsin 1858 – 1861	Succeeded by Louis P. Harvey
Preceded by William Dennison, Jr.	United States Postmaster General 1866 – 1869	Succeeded by John A. J. Creswell