Shelby M. Cullom (November 22, 1829 - January 28, 1914) was a U.S. political figure. Born in 1829 in Monticello, Kentucky, he served as governor of Illinois between 1877 and 1883. He also served as chair of the Senate Republican Conference, 1911-1913. As a U.S. senator from 1883 to 1913, Cullom oversaw the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. He believed that only the federal government had the power to force railroads to provide fair treatment to all of its customers, large and small. This was because corporations, such as Standard Oil, had corrupted many of the railroad's officials into providing them with rebates, and as whole, the companies in question were more powerful than any state government. He died in 1914 in Washington, D.C. and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Preceded by: John Lourie Beveridge Governor of Illinois 1877-1883 Succeeded by: John Marshall Hamilton Preceded by: David Davis Class 2 U.S. Senator from Illinois 1883-1913 Succeeded by: James H. Lewis Governors of Illinois Bond • Coles • Edwards • Reynolds • Ewing • Duncan • Carlin • Ford • French • Matteson • Bissell • Wood • Yates • Oglesby • Palmer • Oglesby • Beveridge • Cullom • Hamilton • Oglesby • Fifer • Altgeld • Tanner • Yates • Deneen • Dunne • Lowden • Small • Emmerson • Horner • Stelle • Green • Stevenson • Stratton • Kerner • Shapiro • Ogilvie • Walker • Thompson • Edgar • Ryan • Blagojevich
