Joel Aldrich Matteson (/ˈmætɪsən/)[2](August 8, 1808 – January 31, 1873) was the tenth Governor of Illinois, serving from 1853 to 1857.

On the 9th ballot, he received 47 votes, 3 short of the 50 needed to win.

Abraham Lincoln, who was also a contestant, then asked his supporters to vote for Lyman Trumbull, who won on the 10th ballot.

[4][5] After his term as governor ended he was for many years the president of the Chicago and Alton Railroad.

[6] The last years of his life were marred by charges of corruption in the Canal Scrip Fraud case.