7/25/2009:
Politicians often enter public service with a background in business, law or journalism. But Dakota's eighth territorial governor brought a unique set of skills to the political table. Although trained as a lawyer, Gilbert A. Pierce was also a widely-acclaimed author of fiction.
While serving as editor for the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper, Pierce wrote several books, novels and plays. He published his first novel, "Zachariah the Congressman," and his first play, "One Hundred Wives" in 1880. He also produced "The Dickens Dictionary"; a reference book covering every novel, short story, play and poem written by Charles Dickens. It became a standard reference book in both Great Britain and the United States.
Gilbert Pierce produced several more works of fiction before he was confirmed as Dakota's territorial governor on this date in 1884.
Dakota Datebook written by Christina Sunwall
Sources:
Eriksmoen, Curt. Did You Know That...? Vol. 2: McCleery & Sons Publishing, 2008.
"North Dakota Governors Online Exhibit", State Historical Society of North Dakota http://history.nd.gov/exhibits/governors/index.html.