Background
Irvine, Frank was born on September 15, 1858 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of John Mitcheltree and Mary (Winter) Irvine.
politician Governor of North Dakota
Irvine, Frank was born on September 15, 1858 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of John Mitcheltree and Mary (Winter) Irvine.
Bachelor of Science, Cornell, 1880. Bachelor of Laws, National U., Washington, 1883.
Twenty-three years old in 1881, he moved to the city of Mandan, the county seat of North Dakota's Morton County, where he dealt in real estate. Campaigning for public office, he was elected county treasurer, serving from 1885 to 1887, gained the statewide post of auditor in 1894 and, finally, in November 1896, prevailed in the gubernatorial election. An activist executive, he participated in discussions of laws being drafted by the state legislature, including passage of the revenue bill as well as a general railway law which regulated movement of freight and passengers.
Having struggled with tuberculosis, Governor Briggs lost the battle in Bismarck five weeks before his 40th birthday. Lieutenant Governor Joseph M. Devine served the remaining four-and-a-half months of the governor's two-year term. He was buried in Howard Lake Cemetery, Howard Lake, MN. Briggs was the first North Dakota Governor to die while in office.
Married Clara Christy, November 16, 1887. Children: Lida (Mistress C. J. Pope), Winifred (Mistress C. S. Woolford), Marjorie (deceased).