Frank Wayland Higgins (August 18, 1856 – February 12, 1907) was an American politician who served as the 35th governor of New York.

Higgins was born in Rushford, New York, on August 18, 1856.^[1][2] He was the son of Orrin Thrall Higgins (1826–1890) and Lucia Cornelia (née Hapgood) Higgins (1831–1868). Given the first name "Francis" at birth, he called himself "Frank" from an early age. His elder sister was Clara Alzina Hapgood Higgins,^[3] who later married Frank Sullivan Smith, one time head of the Shawmut Railroad.^[4] His father, a descendant of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower, was a successful merchant who owned a chain of grocery stores in Olean, New York and held mining and timber tracts in Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota.^[1]

Higgins's grandfather was a pioneer physician of distinction in Western New York.^[1]

Higgins attended Rushford Academy and then Riverview Academy, a military school in Peekskill, New York, from which he graduated in 1873. He then attended a commercial college in Binghamton, New York.

After completing his education Higgins worked as a sales agent for an oil company in Detroit and Chicago, and then became a partner in the Stanton, Michigan, mercantile firm of Wood, Thayer, and Company. In 1879, Higgins returned to New York and became a partner in his father's business, Higgins, Blodgett & Co.^[1]

On June 5, 1877, Higgins was married to Kate Corinne Noble (1855–1929), a daughter of Aaron Harrison Noble and Aldura (née Bell) Noble. They married in Stanton, Michigan, where Higgins was then in business.^[10] Together, they were the parents of:

• Orrin Thrall Higgins (1879–1912)^[11]
• Josephine Bell Higgins, who married Émile Lucien Hovelaque, the Inspector General of Public Instruction in France, in 1911.^[12][13]
• Frank Harrison Higgins (1886–1937).^[14]
• Clarence Noble Higgins (1890–1890), who died in infancy of Cholera Infantum.

Among Higgins closest friends was Olean Mayor Nicholas Van Vranken Franchot, who served as the New York State Superintendent of Public Works during Higgins administration.^[15]

Higgins died of heart disease in Olean on February 12, 1907.^[1] After an Episcopal burial service read at his residence, he was buried at Mount View Cemetery in Olean.^[15] President and Mrs. Roosevelt sent flowers, as did Governor Hughes and many other prominent people.^[15] Higgins estate was valued at $1,250,000, considerably less than the $15,000,000 estimated around his death.^[16] His wife died at the Higgins residence, 128 South Street in Olean, in May 1929.^[10]