# William Cameron Sproul

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American politician

William Cameron Sproul Portrait by Harris & Ewing c. 1919–1923 27th Governor of Pennsylvania In office January 21, 1919 – January 16, 1923 Lieutenant Edward Beidleman Preceded by Martin Brumbaugh Succeeded by Gifford Pinchot Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 9th district In office 1897–1919 Preceded by Jesse Matlack Baker Succeeded by Richard J. Baldwin Chair of the National Governors Association In office August 18, 1919 – December 14, 1922 Preceded by Henry Justin Allen Succeeded by Channing H. Cox Personal details Born William Cameron Sproul (1870-09-16)September 16, 1870 Colerain Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. Died March 21, 1928(1928-03-21) (aged 57) Wallingford, Pennsylvania, U.S. Party Republican Spouse Emeline Wallace Roach (m.1892) Children 2 Education Swarthmore College (BA) Signature

**William Cameron Sproul** (September 16, 1870 – March 21, 1928) was an American politician from [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania) who served as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [Pennsylvania State Senate](/source/Pennsylvania_State_Senate) from 1897 to 1919[1] and as the 27th [governor of Pennsylvania](/source/Governor_of_Pennsylvania) from 1919 to 1923.[2] He also served as chair of the [National Governors Association](/source/National_Governors_Association) from 1919 to 1922.

## Early life and education

Sproul was born at [John Douglass House](/source/John_Douglass_House) to William Hall and Deborah Dickinson (Slokom) Sproul[3] in [Colerain Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania](/source/Colerain_Township%2C_Lancaster_County%2C_Pennsylvania), on September 16, 1870. The family relocated to [Chester, Pennsylvania](/source/Chester%2C_Pennsylvania), in 1883, and Sproul graduated from [Chester High School](/source/Chester_High_School_(Chester%2C_Pennsylvania)) in 1887.[4] He attended [Swarthmore College](/source/Swarthmore_College), was a member of the [Phi Kappa Psi](/source/Phi_Kappa_Psi) fraternity and graduated with honors in 1891.

## Business career

Sproul c. 1903–1905

After graduation, Sproul acquired an interest in the Franklin Printing Company of Philadelphia. Sproul later purchased a half interest in the Chester Times newspaper.[4]

Sproul was employed in the field of newspaper publishing, and rose to the rank of president of the *Chester Daily Times.*[5] Additionally, he made a substantial profit through investments in railroads and manufacturing interests.

In 1895, Sproul was elected a director of the First National Bank of Chester.

In 1898, he became vice president of the [Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works](/source/Delaware_River_Iron_Shipbuilding_and_Engine_Works) but resigned a year later when he organized the Seaboard Steel Casting Company and served as president.

In 1900, he was elected president of the Chester Shipping Company. He was president of the [Ohio Valley Electric Railway Company](/source/Ohio_Valley_Electric_Railway_Company), the [Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railroad](/source/Lackawanna_%26_Wyoming_Valley_Railroad) Company and of the General Refractories Company. He was director of the [Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Baltimore_and_Washington_Railroad) Company, the Delaware County Trust and Title Insurance Company, the Commercial Trust Company of Philadelphia and the American Railways Company.[3]

## Political career

Willim Cameron Sproul and son Jack at an [Armistice Day](/source/Armistice_Day) parade, November 11, 1918

A prominent Republican, Sproul served in the [Pennsylvania State Senate](/source/Pennsylvania_State_Senate) for the [9th District](/source/Pennsylvania_Senate%2C_District_9) from 1897 to 1919. At age 26, he was the youngest member of the senate and the youngest man to become senator from [Delaware County](/source/Delaware_County%2C_Pennsylvania).[3] In 1911, he drafted the landmark [Sproul Road Bill](/source/Sproul_Road_Bill), which created the state highway system.

In [1918](/source/Pennsylvania_gubernatorial_election%2C_1918), Sproul was elected as the [27th Governor of Pennsylvania](/source/List_of_governors_of_Pennsylvania) and served until 1923. As governor, he focused on expanding funding for education, roadway construction, and veterans' services. He also spurred an effort to expand state forest land in order to replenish the state's woodlands after years of depletion by lumber companies.

Sproul was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in [1920](/source/1920_United_States_presidential_election). He was later offered the nomination for vice president on a ticket with [Warren Harding](/source/Warren_Harding), but he declined. In 1926, Sproul chaired the bi-state committee that organized the construction of the [Benjamin Franklin Bridge](/source/Benjamin_Franklin_Bridge) between Philadelphia and [Camden](/source/Camden%2C_New_Jersey).

During his political career, Sproul was elected to the [American Philosophical Society](/source/American_Philosophical_Society).[6]

## Personal life

Sproul homestead in [Chester, Pennsylvania](/source/Chester%2C_Pennsylvania)

On January 21, 1892, Sproul married Emeline Wallace Roach, the daughter of shipbuilder [John Roach](/source/John_Roach_(shipbuilder)).[7] They had two children, Dorothy Wallace Sproul (1892–1931) and John Roach Sproul (1894–1949), who married [Henry D. Hatfield](/source/Henry_D._Hatfield)'s daughter, Hazel Bronson Hatfield.

Although Sproul was a millionaire, he died [intestate](/source/Intestate) on March 21, 1928.[2] He is interred at the [Chester Rural Cemetery](/source/Chester_Rural_Cemetery) in Chester, Pennsylvania.[7]

## Legacy

Telescope in the [Sproul Observatory](/source/Sproul_Observatory) at [Swarthmore College](/source/Swarthmore_College)

His birthplace is known as the [John Douglass House](/source/John_Douglass_House) and was listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1990.[8]

The following are named in his honor:

- Sproul Hall, a [Penn State University](/source/Penn_State_University) residence hall built in 1966[9]

- Governor Sproul Apartments in [Broomall, Pennsylvania](/source/Broomall%2C_Pennsylvania)

- Sproul Estates, a residential development in [Wallingford, Pennsylvania](/source/Wallingford%2C_Pennsylvania), built on the site of his former residence[10]

- [Sproul State Forest](/source/Sproul_State_Forest) in [Clinton](/source/Clinton_County%2C_Pennsylvania) and [Centre](/source/Centre_County%2C_Pennsylvania) counties

- Sproul Road, which parallels much of [PA Route 320](/source/PA_Route_320) in between Wayne, Radnor and Marple

- [Sproul Observatory](/source/Sproul_Observatory) at Swarthmore College[3]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["William Cameron Sproul"](http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/bioshistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=5518&body=S). *www.legis.state.pa.us*. Retrieved August 10, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_2-1) ["William C. Sproul, Ex-Governor, Dies. Former Pennsylvania Executive Succumbs at 57 After Illness of Several Months. Began Life As Farmer Boy. After College He Bought Interest in a Newspaper, but Later Took Up Financial Interests"](https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E13FA3559127A93C0AB1788D85F4C8285F9). *[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)*. March 22, 1928. Retrieved December 27, 2013. William Cameron Sproul, former Governor of Pennsylvania, three times President of the Union League of Philadelphia and a nationally known figure in Republican politics, died at his home, Lapidea Manor, near Chester, shortly before 10 o'clock tonight ....

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NationalBank_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NationalBank_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NationalBank_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NationalBank_3-3) Ashmead, Henry Graham (1914). [*History of the Delaware County National Bank*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CLMpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA132). Chester, Pennsylvania: Press of the Chester Times. p. 159. Retrieved August 11, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Ashmead_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Ashmead_4-1) Ashmead, Henry Graham (1914). [*History of the Delaware County National Bank*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CLMpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA132). Chester, Pennsylvania: Press of the Chester Times. p. 159. Retrieved March 1, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jordan_5-0)** Jordan, John W. (1914). [*A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Its People*](https://archive.org/stream/historyofdelawar02jord#page/n5/mode/2up). New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 515–516. Retrieved August 11, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["APS Member History"](https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=William+C.+Sproul&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced). *search.amphilsoc.org*. Retrieved September 22, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-phmc_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-phmc_7-1) ["Governor William Cameron Sproul"](https://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/governors/1876-1951/william-sproul.html). *www.phmc.state.pa.us*. Retrieved August 12, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nris_8-0)** ["National Register Information System"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP). *[National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). July 9, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Sproul Hall"](https://housing.psu.edu/sproul-hall). *www.housing.psu.edu*. Retrieved August 12, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Wallingford PA Community Spotlight - Sproul Estates"](https://www.wallingfordpahomes.com/blog/2011/02/sproul-estates-wallingford-pa-community-spotlight/). *www.wallingfordpahomes.com*. Retrieved August 12, 2018.

- [PHMC: William Cameron Sproul biography](http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/1879-1951/4284/william_cameron_sproul)

- [Pennsylvania Governors Past to Present: Governor William Cameron Sproul](http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/governors/sproul.asp)

- [Biography portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [William Cameron Sproul](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:William_Cameron_Sproul).

- [Works by or about William Cameron Sproul](https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subject%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%20Cameron%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%20C%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Sproul%2C%20W%2E%20C%2E%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22William%20Cameron%20Sproul%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22William%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22W%2E%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22William%20Sproul%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22William%20Cameron%20Sproul%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22William%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22W%2E%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22W%2E%20Cameron%20Sproul%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%20Cameron%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%20C%2E%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Sproul%2C%20W%2E%20C%2E%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Sproul%2C%20W%2E%20Cameron%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22William%20Sproul%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%22%20OR%20title%3A%22William%20Cameron%20Sproul%22%20OR%20title%3A%22William%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20title%3A%22W%2E%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20title%3A%22William%20Sproul%22%20OR%20description%3A%22William%20Cameron%20Sproul%22%20OR%20description%3A%22William%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20description%3A%22W%2E%20C%2E%20Sproul%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%20Cameron%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%20C%2E%22%20OR%20description%3A%22William%20Sproul%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Sproul%2C%20William%22%29%20OR%20%28%221870-1928%22%20AND%20Sproul%29%29%20AND%20%28-mediatype:software%29) at the [Internet Archive](/source/Internet_Archive)

Party political offices Preceded by Martin Grove Brumbaugh Republican nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania 1918 Succeeded by Gifford Pinchot Political offices Preceded by Jesse Matlack Baker Member of the Pennsylvania Senate 9th District 1897–1919 Succeeded by Richard J. Baldwin Preceded by Martin Brumbaugh Governor of Pennsylvania 1919–1923 Succeeded by Gifford Pinchot Preceded by Henry Justin Allen Chair of the National Governors Association 1919–1922 Succeeded by Channing H. Cox

v t e Governors and presidents of Pennsylvania Presidents (1777–1790) Wharton Bryan Reed Moore Dickinson Franklin Mifflin Governors (since 1790) Mifflin McKean Snyder Findlay Hiester Shulze G. Wolf Ritner Porter Shunk Johnston Bigler Pollock Packer Curtin Geary Hartranft Hoyt Pattison Beaver Pattison Hastings Stone Pennypacker Stuart Tener Brumbaugh Sproul Pinchot Fisher Pinchot Earle James Martin Bell Duff Fine Leader Lawrence Scranton Shafer Shapp Thornburgh Casey Ridge Schweiker Rendell Corbett T. Wolf Shapiro

v t e Chairs of the National Governors Association Willson McGovern Walsh Spry Capper Harrington Allen Sproul Cox Trinkle Brewster McMullen Dern Case Pollard Rolph McNutt Peery Cochran Stark Vanderbilt Stassen O'Conor Saltonstall Maw Martin Caldwell Hildreth Hunt Lane Carlson Lausche Peterson Shivers Thornton Kennon Langlie Stanley Stratton Collins Boggs McNichols Powell Rosellini Anderson Sawyer Reed Guy Volpe Ellington Love Hearnes Moore Mandel Evans Rampton Ray Andrus Askew Milliken Carroll Bowen Busbee Snelling Matheson J. Thompson Carlin Alexander Clinton Sununu Baliles Branstad Gardner Ashcroft Romer Campbell Dean T. Thompson Miller Voinovich Carper Leavitt Glendening Engler Patton Kempthorne Warner Huckabee Napolitano Pawlenty Rendell Douglas Manchin Gregoire Heineman Markell Fallin Hickenlooper Herbert McAuliffe Sandoval Bullock Hogan Cuomo Hutchinson Murphy Cox Polis Stitt

v t e (← 1916) 1920 United States presidential election (→ 1924) Republican Party (Convention) Nominees President: Warren G. Harding Vice President: Calvin Coolidge Other candidates Leonard Wood Frank O. Lowden Hiram Johnson William Cameron Sproul Nicholas Murray Butler Calvin Coolidge Robert M. La Follette Jeter C. Pritchard Miles Poindexter Howard Sutherland Herbert Hoover Democratic Party (Convention) Nominees President: James M. Cox Vice President: Franklin D. Roosevelt Other candidates William Gibbs McAdoo A. Mitchell Palmer Al Smith John W. Davis Edward I. Edwards Woodrow Wilson (incumbent) Robert L. Owen Third party and independent candidates Socialist Party Convention Nominee: Eugene V. Debs VP nominee: Seymour Stedman Farmer–Labor Party Convention Nominee: Parley P. Christensen VP nominee: Max S. Hayes Prohibition Party Convention Nominee: Aaron S. Watkins VP nominee: D. Leigh Colvin American Party Nominee: James E. Ferguson VP nominee: William J. Hough Socialist Labor Party Nominee: William Wesley Cox VP nominee: August Gillhaus Single Tax Nominee: Robert Colvin Macauley VP nominee: Richard C. Barnum Other 1920 elections: House Senate

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