William McWillie

William McWillie (November 17, 1795 – March 3, 1869) was the twenty-second governor of Mississippi from 1857 to 1859. He was a Democrat. McWillie was the last Governor of Mississippi prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.[1]

Governor William McWillie
Portrait of Governor William McWillie
22nd Governor of Mississippi
In office
November 16, 1857  November 21, 1859
Preceded byJohn J. McRae
Succeeded byJohn J. Pettus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 3rd district
In office
December 3, 1849  March 3, 1851
Preceded byPatrick W. Tompkins
Succeeded byJohn D. Freeman
South Carolina State Senate
South Carolina House of Representatives
In office
1854–1892
Personal details
Born(1795-11-17)November 17, 1795
Camden, South Carolina, United States
DiedMarch 3, 1869(1869-03-03) (aged 73)
Kirkwood Plantation Madison County, Mississippi
Resting placeKirkwood Cemetery, Camden, Mississippi
Spouse(s)Nancy Cunningham
Catherine Anderson
Childrentwenty three children
Alma materUniversity of South Carolina
Military service
Allegiance United States of America (prior to 1861)
Confederate States of America 1861–1865
Branch/service United States Army (War of 1812)
Battles/warsWar of 1812

Biography

He was born near Liberty Hill, Kershaw County, South Carolina, on November 17, 1795. His father Colonel Adam McWillie was in command of the 2nd Regiment SC militia during the War of 1812, and William served as an adjutant in his father's regiment in the war.

McWillie graduated from South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) in 1817. He then began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1818.[2]

He was married to Nancy Cunningham (1799-1827) and Catherine Anderson (1812–1873), daughter of Dr. Edward H. Anderson of Camden, South Carolina, and granddaughter of a noted officer of the Maryland Line.

Between 1836 and 1840, he served in both the South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate. In 1845 he moved to Mississippi. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1849, serving from December 3, 1849 to March 3, 1851. In 1858 he became Governor of Mississippi, serving until 1860. McWillie died in Kirkwood, Madison County, Mississippi, on March 3, 1869. He is buried in Kirkwood Cemetery, near Camden, Mississippi, the town he founded and named for his hometown of Camden, South Carolina.

His son Adam McWillie (1821 to 1861) was killed in the Civil War during the First Battle of Bull Run.

References

  1. "Governor William McWillie". mshistory.k12.ms.us. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. "Governor William McWillie". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
Party political offices
Preceded by
John J. McRae
Democratic nominee for Governor of Mississippi
1857
Succeeded by
John J. Pettus
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Patrick W. Tompkins
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 4th congressional district

18491851
Succeeded by
John D. Freeman
Political offices
Preceded by
John J. McRae
Governor of Mississippi
1857-1859
Succeeded by
John J. Pettus
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.