career In 1870 Austin was elected governor of Minnesota and McGill was selected as his private secretary. In 1873, McGill was appointed insurance commissioner of the state, a position he held for thirteen years. In 1886, the Republican state convention nominated McGill as their candidate for governor of Minnesota. He won the nomination and the election, serving a single, two-year term as governor (1887–1889). During his term he recommended a revision of the railroad laws pertaining to transportation, storage, and grading of wheat, the watering of railroad stocks, a simplification of the tax laws, regulation of liquor, abolition of contract prison labor, establishment of a soldiers' home, and creation of a Bureau of Labor Statistics. While not re-elected, McGill remained active in politics, supporting the presidential candidacy of Cushman K. Davis (1896) and serving in the Minnesota State Senate from the 37th District, St. Paul (1899–1905). McGill was appointed postmaster of St. Paul (1900) while concurrently serving as senator. He died at his home in St. Paul on October 31, 1905. References Biographical information and his gubernatorial records are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota Legislators Past and Present External links 1840 births 1905 deaths People from Crawford County, Pennsylvania Methodists from Minnesota American people of Scotch-Irish descent Republican Party governors of Minnesota Republican Party Minnesota state senators Politicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota People from St. Peter, Minnesota