William J. Bross | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 16th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 16, 1865 – January 11, 1869 | |
| Governor | Richard J. Oglesby |
| Preceded by | Francis Hoffmann |
| Succeeded by | John Dougherty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 4, 1813 Sussex County, New Jersey |
| Died | January 27, 1890 (aged 76) Chicago, Illinois |
| Resting place | Rosehill Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | Jessie Bross Lloyd |
| Alma mater | Williams College |
| Profession | Newspaper editor |
| Signature | .png) |
William J. Bross (November 4, 1813 – January 27, 1890) was an American politician and publisher originally from the New Jersey–New York–Pennsylvania tri-state area. He was also elected as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
He engaged in the lumber trade with his father before attending Williams College. He taught at schools for ten years, then headed west to Chicago, Illinois. He engaged in book-selling and publishing interests before co-founding the successful Democratic Press paper. Following the organization of the Republican Party in 1854, Bross became a staunch supporter of its political candidates. His support for Abraham Lincoln helped him win support for a bid as lieutenant governor. In 1865, he accompanied future Vice President of the United States Schuyler Colfax on a trip west to California, later publishing a book about the excursion.