William Goebel

Biography

William Goebel (1856–1900) dedicated his life to Kentucky politics, earning a reputation as a reformer committed to fair elections and the interests of the common citizen before winning the governorship in a contested race fraught with tension.

His assassination shortly after assuming office marked a tragic conclusion to that dedication, yet his grave at Frankfort Cemetery remains a place where Kentuckians honor his bravery in defending democratic principles.