William T. Minor graduated from Yale University and studied law under his father, eventually practicing law in Stamford. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and Connecticut State Senate, and was elected Governor of Connecticut by the state assembly. Minor held various judicial roles, including a judgeship on the Connecticut Superior Court, and was appointed Consul-General to Havana by President Lincoln. He also advocated for educational reforms and antislavery measures.

William T. Minor's political career is marked by an intriguing blend of progressive educational reforms and conservative immigration policies. He advocated for universal, free education in Connecticut while simultaneously supporting measures that disenfranchised non-literate immigrants. This juxtaposition suggests a nuanced approach to social policy, balancing egalitarian ideals with a restrictive view on immigration. Minor's legislative record reveals a calculated strategy to protect regional industrial interests through unexpected alliances on environmental regulations.