Territorial Timeline

President Benjamin Harrison appointed Miles C. Moore governor

Miles C. Moore was appointed territorial governor by President Benjamin Harrison to serve until Washington was officially admitted into the Union. While Governor Moore's term was short (seven months), he was selected because he was an able executive who could ensure Washington's smooth transition from territorial status to Statehood.

He presided over the final acts of the territory and was in office as the Constitutional Convention met in Olympia drafting the Constitution, from July 4, 1889 until August 22. When the Constitution had been drafted it was submitted to the people of Washington for a vote. It was approved 40,152 to 11,879. Two separate articles, women's suffrage and prohibition were voted on separately, but they both lost. In addition, the location of the state capital was on the ballot, with Olympia winning.

Besides presiding over the events leading to Statehood, Governor Moore had to deal with several ominous disasters. The great Seattle fire broke out in June 1889, wiping out the entire downtown. Fires also destroyed large parts of the business districts of Ellensburg, Vancouver and Spokane the same year. Governor Moore quickly mobilized the Militia to keep order and appealed to the nation for help, which quickly arrived.

In November, 1889, Miles Moore turned over the office of governor to the newly-elected state governor, Elisha P. Ferry.