Lincoln's nomination of John A. Gurley to be the first Governor of the Territory of Arizona
After Congress created the Arizona Territory from land in the New Mexico Territory, President Abraham Lincoln nominated and the Senate confirmed John A. Gurley to be the first Governor of the Arizona Territory. However Gurley died before arriving in Arizona and President Lincoln, in a recess appointment, selected John Noble Goodwin as the replacement.
President Abraham Lincoln's nomination of John A. Gurley to be the first Governor of the Territory of Arizona, March 7, 1863; Records of the U.S. Senate, RG 46