William Rush Merriam

William Rush Merriam (July 26, 1849 – February 18, 1931) was an American politician and banker. A Republican, he served as the 11th governor of Minnesota from 1889 to 1893. He also served as the first director of the United States Census Bureau under President William Mckinley.

Life and career Merriam was born in Wadham's Mills, New York, the son of Mahala Kimpton (Delano) and Minnesota house speaker John L. Merriam. His family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1861. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1883 and 1887 and was the Speaker of the House in 1887. While in the legislature, he was elected president of the Merchants' National Bank in 1884. at age 81.

Remains His three-quarter portrait by the Swiss born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury (1862–1947) was painted in 1892. This and a portrait of his wife were exhibited in St. Paul in that year. A small, bust-length portrait, is now in the collection of the Newport Preservation Society, Rhode Island; it was formerly in the collections of Jessica Dragonette and the University of Wyoming. Müller-Ury is also known to have painted a portrait of their son Amherst Merriam as a baby.

Merriam is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC.