Origins & Early Life

Robert Marion La Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925), nicknamed "Fighting Bob", was an American lawyer and the leading progressive politician in Wisconsin from the 1890s until his death in 1925. He served as U.S. senator from Wisconsin for the last 20 years of his life; prior to that he served as the 20th governor of Wisconsin (1901–1906) and served three terms in the U.S.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

House of Representatives (1885–1891). A Republican for most of his life, he ran for president of the United States as the nominee of his own Progressive Party in the 1924 United States presidential election. Historian John D. Buenker describes La Follette as "the most celebrated figure in Wisconsin history". Born and raised in Wisconsin, La Follette won election as the Dane County district attorney in 1880.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Four years later, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was friendly with party leaders like William McKinley. After losing his seat in the Democratic wave election of 1890, La Follette regrouped. As a populist, he embraced progressivism and built up a coalition of disaffected Republicans. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in [[1896]] and [[1898]] before...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adam Mickiewicz — Contemporary (Died in 1855) (1855): National Poet of Poland, Romantic master, and leading voice of Slavic literature.
• Andrew Mellon — Contemporary (Born in 1855) (1855): American banker, industrialist, and politician who served as Secretary of the Treasury.
• Arthur Guinness II — Contemporary (Died in 1855) (1855): Anglo-Irish brewer, banker, and politician who managed the expansion of the Guinness brewery.
• Albert Bandura — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Prominent South African politician and long-serving ANC leader.
• Alfred F. Young — Contemporary (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering American historian of the Revolution and working-class social history.
• Adolphe Pégoud — Shared historical date (06-13 · Born) (1889): Pioneering French aviator and the first recorded fighter ace of World War I.
• Ali Sayad Shirazi — Shared historical date (06-13 · Born) (1944): Key Iranian military commander during the Iran-Iraq War, assassinated in 1999.
• Alan Davis — Shared historical date (06-18 · Born) (1956): English comic book writer and artist known for Captain Britain and X-Men work.
• Ali Akbar Khan — Shared historical date (06-18 · Died) (2009): Master sarod virtuoso who popularized Hindustani classical music in the West.
• 1855 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1855
• June 13 (06-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 13
• 1925 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1925
• June 18 (06-18) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 18