Established February 20, 1855, this county was named in honor of a statesman of New York, Silas Wright, who was born in Amherst, Mass., May 24, 1795, and died in Canton, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., August 27, 1847. It is said that the name "was adopted as a compromise after a somewhat animated discussion." Wright had been a personal friend of W. G. McCrory, who was a member of the committee chosen by the citizens of Monticello to go before the territorial legislature and urge the establishment and organization of the county. On their journey to St. Paul the committee discussed several proposed names for it but were unable to agree. Finally, at the suggestion of this member, the name of Wright was adopted. He was graduated at Middlebury College, 1815; studied law and settled for its practice at Canton, N.Y., 1819; was a member of Congress, 1827-29; was comptroller of the state of New York, 1829-33; was a U.S. senator, 1833-44; and was governor of New York, 1845-47. "He refused several offers of cabinet offices and foreign missions. After his term as governor he retired to his farm in Canton, which he cultivated with his own hands." Biographies of Governor Wright have been published in 1847, 1848, 1852, 1874, and 1913.