- Bill Irwin is also the name of a modern-day American actor and clown
William Irwin (1827 - March 15, 1886) was a California politician from the Democratic Party, who served as Governor of California between 1875 and 1880 after having been Acting Lieutenant Governor of California for nine months in 1875.
Born in Butler County, Ohio, Irwin graduated from Marietta College [1] in Marietta, Ohio, where he would later become an instructor. After moving to California, Irwin worked in various private industries and was eventually elected to the California State Assembly. He became the editor of a newspaper and then was elected to the California State Senate. He served as President pro Tempore of the Senate and as such, became acting lieutenant governor in 1875 when Lieutenant Governor Romualdo Pacheco became governor. Irwin was elected governor in his own right that same year.
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