Alan Cranston

Birth Name: Alan MacGregor Cranston

Date of Birth: June 19, 1914

Place of Birth: Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California, United States

Date of Death: December 31, 2000

Place of Death: Los Altos, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*Scottish (father)
*English (mother)

Alan Cranston was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he was Controller of California, from January 5, 1959 to January 2, 1967, a U.S. Senator from California, from January 3, 1969 to January 3, 1993, and Senate Majority Whip, from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1981, and again, from January 3, 1987 to January 3, 1991, among other duties.

He was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1984.

Alan was the son of Carol E. (Dixon) and William MacGregor Cranston. His paternal grandparents were Canadian, and were of Scottish descent. His mother had Colonial American (English) ancestry, with deep roots in New England. His family was wealthy, and held real estate investments. Alan had two children with his former wife Geneva McMath.

Alan’s paternal grandfather was named Robert D. Cranston. Robert was born in Canada, to Scottish parents.

Alan’s paternal grandmother was Jennie MacGregor/McGregor (the daughter of William McGregor and Jessie Bolt). Jennie was born in Canada, to Scottish parents, with roots in Perthshire.

Alan’s maternal grandfather was Dr. George Merritt Dixon (the son of The Rev. Hiram Harlow Dixon and Sarepta A. “Sarah” Wells). George was born in Vermont. Hiram was the son of Gideon O. Dixon and Esther Dryer. Sarepta was the daughter of Daniel Wells and Amanda.

Alan’s maternal grandmother was named Sadie Angeline Johnson (the daughter of Hiram Johnson). Sadie was born in Wisconsin, to parents from New York.

Sources: Genealogies of Alan Cranston (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com

Alan Cranston on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Alan Cranston on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Alan’s parents on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Alan’s father on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Alan’s mother on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org