Milton Latham, born on May twenty-third, eighteen twenty-seven, was a prominent American politician and lawyer. He is best remembered for his brief tenure as the sixth governor of California, a position he held for an astonishingly short period of just five days, from January ninth to January fourteenth in eighteen sixty.
As a member of the Lecompton Democrats, Latham's political career was marked by significant transitions. He was not only a governor but also served as a U.S. representative and a U.S. senator, showcasing his versatility and influence in American politics during a tumultuous era.
His governorship, although fleeting, is a notable part of California's history, as he became the second governor to resign from office. This resignation came shortly after he was elected by the state legislature to a seat in the U.S. Senate, highlighting the dynamic nature of his political journey.