In
office
January 1, 1893 – January 1, 1897
John Tyler Rich (April 23, 1841 – March 28,
1926) was a U.S. Representative from and the 23rd Governor of the
US state of Michigan.
Rich was a member and chairman of the board of supervisors of
Lapeer County, 1869–1872. He was a member of the Michigan
House of Representatives, 1873–1881, and served as speaker of
the house during the last two terms. He was also a delegate to the
Republican State conventions in 1873, 1875, and 1878.
Rich served in the Michigan Senate from January 1, 1881, until
March 21, 1881, when he resigned, having been elected to the United
States House of Representatives for the 47th Congress to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Omar D. Conger, serving from
April 5, 1881, to March 3, 1883. He was an unsuccessful candidate
for reelection in 1882 to the 48th Congress. He later served as
State Railroad Commissioner, 1887–1891, and a delegate to the
Republican National Conventions in 1884 to elect James G. Blaine
and 1892 to re-elect Benjamin Harrison as U.S. President, both of
whom lost to Democrat Grover Cleveland.
Rich served as Governor of Michigan from 1893 to 1897. During his
four years in office, a railroad strike, as well as an iron mine
strike occurred. Also, three members of the State Canvassing Board
were fired for falsifying returns on a salary raise vote for state
officeholders.
After leaving office, he served as United States collector of
customs at Detroit from February 16, 1898, to January 30, 1906. He
was elected State Treasurer of Michigan to fill a vacancy and
served from January 23, 1908, to January 1, 1909. He was then
collector of customs at Port Huron from December 11, 1908, to May
30, 1913.
