Frank Finley Merriam (December 22, 1865 – April 25, 1955) was an
American politician who served as the
28th governor of California from June 2, 1934 until January 2, 1939. Assuming the governorship at the height of the
Great Depression following the death of Governor
James Rolph, Merriam famously defeated former
Socialist Party member and
Democratic candidate for Governor
Upton Sinclair in the 1934 general elections. Merriam also served as the Iowa State Auditor 1900–1903, and served in the Iowa and California state legislatures.