Riley 
Governors 
W
elcome to the "Famous and Notable Rileys" part of our Riley Family History section. This site honors Riley kin (of all spellings), including descendants, who have been elected or appointed as governors and lieutenant governors of the colonies, states and provinces.This site is sponsored by the Riley Family Club, a national family club devoted to gathering and preserving the family history of ALL Riley, O'Rilley, O'Reiley families (and other spellings). You are urged to send information and copies of records on Riley family history to preserve in the Riley Family Library.
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Governors
Bennett (Bennet) Riley was born 1787 in Alexandria, Virginia. He spent his entire working career as a soldier in the United States Army.
He entered the Army at an early age when he was appointed from Maryland an ensign of rifles on 19 Jan 1813, during the War of 1812 with Britain. He was promoted to lieutenant in less than two months. After the war, he remained in the Army for the rest of his life. He was promoted to captain in 1818.
Bennett served with gallantry in 1823 in action against the Ariekaree Indians.
In 1829, as a Brevette Major, he led four companies of the Sixth US Infantry Regiment as the first military escort for a wagon train of traders on the Santa Fe Trail to the Southwest. When the contingent reached Cantonment Leavenworth (later Fort Leavenworth), Ks., they were welcomed as they disembarked from their steamboat with a 15-gun salute.
He served with distinction in the Second Seminole War. For his services against the Seminoles at Chakotta, Florida on 2 Jun 1840, he was brevetted colonel.
During the Mexican War, Bennet was given important commands and let the 2nd Infantry Regiment and later the 2nd Brigade of Twigg's Division, in the Valley of Mexico. For his gallantry at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, he brevetted to Brigadier General on 18 Apr 1847. For his bravery and efforts at Contreras, he was breveted to major general on 20 Aug 1847. General Winfield Scott, in command of the American Army, assured Bennet that his bravery had secured a victory for the American forces.
At the end of the Mexican War, General Riley was placed in command of the Pacific Department of the Army, which included the new territory of California taken from Mexico, with headquarters at Monterey.
Bennet was made Military Governor of California and and served as the first chief magistrate of the territory which continued until California elected its first slate of officers for admission to the Union.
Bennet arrived at Monterey with his Army brigade aboard the USS Iowa on 12 Apr 1849 and took command the next day.
On 3 June, he issued a proclamation calling for election of delegates for a Constitutional Convention to be held at Monterey 1 Sep. which recommended "the formation of a State constitution or a plan for a territorial government."
It had become traditional that frontier areas first become a territory for several years until a good system of government was established and then it could be admitted as a state. However, the people of California wanted to bypass this process and immediately become a state. The Convention he called took steps to form a constitution and a government.
On 29 Nov 1849, Bennet issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, one of the first such official proclamations for what became an American tradition.
On 22 Dec, the first elected governor was inaugurated and Bennet immediately resigned his office. After his tenure in California ended, he lived in Buffalo, NY where he died
Richard Wilson ("Dick") Riley was born 22 Jan 1933 in Greenville, SC, a son of Edward Patterson ("Ted") Riley Sr. and Martha Elizabeth Dixon. He graduated cum laude from Furman University in 1954 and received his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1959. He served in the US Navy aboard a minesweeper.
He became a lawyer and practiced law with his father and brother for several years.
Dick was elected as a Democrat to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served 1963-1966. He was elected to the South Carolina State Senate and served 1967-1976.
Dick was elected Governor of South Carolina on two occasions, serving his first term from 1979-1983. Among the major accomplishments during his first administration was creation of the South Carolina Nuclear Advisory Council to help the state cope with any nuclear problems. This followed upon the infamous Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania. He received the Special Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation in 1981. South Carolina voters liked his first administration so much that they passed a constitutional amendment allowing governors to serve two consecutive terms.
Bob Cowley Riley was born 18 Sep 1924 in Little Rock, Arkansas, a son of Columbus A. Riley and Winnie Craig. He served in World War II. Bob attended school at Little Rock and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1950 and received a master's degree there in 1951 and a doctorate in education in 1957.
Bob was elected as a Democrat from Pulaski County to the Arkansas State House of Representatives in 1946 and was reelected in 1948.
He worked in the insurance business briefly before becoming a college teacher. He taught at Little Rock University in 1951 and again 1953-1955. He then took a post at Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia, Ar. After becoming a professor at Ouachita, he became active in the community's civic affairs and government. He won a seat on the Arkadelphia City Council and served 1960-1966. He was then elected Mayor of Arkadelphia and served 1966-1967.
Bob was elected as a Democrat to be Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas in 1970 and reelected in 1972. Bob lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1974. Following the resignation of Gov. Dale Bumpers at the beginning of 1975 to serve in the US Senate, Bob served as acting governor of Arkansas between 2 Jan and 14 Jan 1975, when the new governor was installed.
Upon the end of his term, Bob returned to Arkadelphia and his teaching post at Ouchita Baptist University until his death 16 Feb 1994.
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