Leon Abbett

Leon Abbett was an American Democratic Party politician and lawyer who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 26th Governor of New Jersey from 1884 to 1887 and 1890 to 1893. His official state biography refers to Abbett as "undoubtedly the most powerful person in New Jersey in the late nineteenth century" and "the first urban-oriented governor" of New Jersey. He was popularly known as the "Great Commoner" for his advocacy on behalf of ordinary citizens, and presided over a wide range of reforms during his time as governor. He failed in two attempts to win election to the United States Senate.