Tim N. Machin

Who was Tim N. Machin?

Timothy N. Machin was the tenth Lieutenant Governor of California from 1863 to 1867. He previously served in the California State Assembly, representing Tuolumne and Mono counties for two terms in 1862 and 1863.

Machin studied law at John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School in Ballston Spa, New York, along with Niles Searls and Chancellor Hartson. He moved west and settled near Mono Lake in California.

Practicing law in Monoville he was elected Mono County's choice for the California State Assembly as a Member of the California's 12th State Assembly district, 1862–63;

In 1863, he was chosen Speaker of the Assembly. Staunchly pro-Union in the Civil War, he made many influential contacts in the Republican Party and its successor, the Union Democrat parties. He was noted for his integrity and straight dealings. In 1863, he received the nomination for Lieutenant Governor of California running with Frederick Low on the Union Democrat ticket. He ran against E.W. McKinstrey, beating him by 21,120 votes. As Lieutenant Governor, he was selected to prosecute the impeachment proceedings instituted against a popular jurist, Judge Hardy. During his tenure he was appointed the Superintendent of San Quentin State Prison. He remained Lt. Governor through 1867.