William Erler

William Erler
 			
14th & 17th Speaker of the House 			
Term: March 4, 1821 - February 14, 1822 / March 4 - April 14, 1825 			
Preceded By: Henry Clay / John Tremble II 			
Succeeded By: Herald Banks / John Quincy Adams 			
4th Governor of Maine 			
Term: April 12, 1822 - May 7, 1825 			
Lieutenant Governor: Ezekiel Whitman 			
Preceded By: William King 			
Succeeded By: Ezekiel Whitman 			
Representative from Maine 			
Term: March 4, 1821 - April 14, 1825 			
Preceded By: John Weilen 			
Succeeded By: George Hickson 			
1st Chair of the Maine Volunteer Guard 			
Term: May 7, 1819 - March 4, 1821 			
Preceded By: Position Established 			
Succeeded By: Gregory Lee 			
Personal Details 			
Born: April 12, 1777 			
Death: November 3, 1825 (48) 			
State: Maine 			
Party: Yankee before 1817 / Republican 1817-1825 / Liberty 1825 / Republican 1825			
Parents: Henry Erler 			
Family: Erler 			
Military Servic 			
Loyalty: United States 			
Rank: Colonel 			
Years of Service: 1819-21 / 1825 			
Wars & Battles:
Third American Civil War
* Battle of Charleston
* First Battle of Savannah			
William Erler was a Speaker of the House, Governor of Maine, Representative from Maine, and a Chair of the Maine Volunteer Guard. Erler held many positions throughout the state of Maine, and was considered a viable option for a future leader.
== Political Career ==
On May 7, 1819, William Erler was appointed the first Chair of the Maine Volunteer Guard, for which he served roughly two years before resigning to serve in the House in 1821.
=== Speaker / House ===
The Republican Party had been looking for a successor to Speaker Henry Clay, and Erler with a prominent dynasty just fell into the position, even under a Democratic House. Erler got little done in the position before being overthrown by Democrat Herald Banks for the seat. Erler continued serving in the house, once again being elected Speaker in 1825, but being very outspoken over war and southern punishment, he soon lost support of House Republicans, finding himself removed from the Speaker seat, he soon resigned after. 
=== Governorship ===
On April 12, 1822, William Erler was elected Governor during a recall election which removed Governor William King. Erler once again drove the state the way his father had. Erler won re-election in late 1822, and would remain Governor until being removed in 1825 after provoking war with the Third Republic of Dixieland.
== Death and Legacy ==
William Erler died on November 3, 1825 in the First Battle of Savannah serving as a Colonel under his father Henry Erler, William was severely wounded, lasting only a few more hours before dying in the presence of his father.
William Erler is often remembered as a firecracker politician always looking to set off a spark, igniting arguments and debates no matter where he was. If anything outlives him, it's his lack of self-containment.