William Bebb - Definition and Overview

William Bebb (December 8, 1802 - October 23, 1873) was a Whig politician from Ohio. He served as the 19th Governor of Ohio.

Bebb was born in Butler County, Ohio to Welsh immigrants. After finishing, he taught school while studying for the bar. He began practicing law in 1831. A devoted campaigner for William Henry Harrison in 1840 and for Henry Clay four years later, Bebb was nominated by the Whigs in 1846 for the governorship. Bebb served a single term beginning in December 1846. His term technically expired in December 1848, but was extended into January 1849 due to a number of close statewide elections which necessitated delaying the inauguration of a successor. Bebb later moved to Rockford, Illinois.