Reuben Wood - Definition

Reuben Wood (1792 or 1793 - October 1, 1864) was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served as the 21st Governor of Ohio.

Wood was born near Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont. While living with an uncle in Canada, he was conscripted into the Canadian Army at the outset of the War of 1812, but escaped across Lake Ontario and briefly served in the U.S. Army. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio - then a tiny village of 600 residents - in 1816 with his wife and infant daughter. He reputedly arrived with only $1.25 left to his name to work as a lawyer. He served in the Ohio State Senate from 1825-1830. He was elected in 1832 to the Ohio Supreme Court, and served two seven-year terms from 1833-1847. He was defeated in a bid for a third term by a Whig candidate. He took office in late 1850 as Governor. His first term was cut short by the implementation of a new state constitution, and he was re-elected in late 1851, re-inaugurated in early 1852. He resigned on July 13, 1853 to take a position as the American consul in Valparaiso, Chile. He remained there until 1855, when he retired to Cleveland.