William Lyne Wilson: Difference between revisions
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'William Lyne Wilson' (May 3, 1843 – October 17, 1900) was a lawyer, member of Congress, cabinet member and university president from [[West Virginia]]. He was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1882, serving six terms in office ending in 1895. After leaving the House, he was appointed [[Postmaster General of the United States]] by President [[Grover Cleveland]] and remained in that post for two years (1895-1897) until the end of Cleveland’s term. | |||
==Early years== | |||
William L. Wilson was born in Charles Town, Virginia on May 3, 1843. After 1863, Charlestown was in the new state of West Virginia. As a young man, he attended [[Charles Town Academy]], and graduated from [[Columbian College]], later part of [[George Washington University]] in 1860. He also subsequently studied at the [[University of Virginia]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]]. | |||
During the Civil War (1861-1864) he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a private in the 12th Virginia Cavalry. Following the war, Wilson taught school for several years at Columbian College while studying in law school. He was admitted to the bar in 1869 and opened his own law office in Charles Town. | |||
He married the daughter of Rev. A.J. Huntington, professor of Greek at Columbian College. The couple had no children. | |||
After he left Washington, Wilson was named [[University president|President]] at [[Washington and Lee University]] in [[Lexington Virginia]]. In 1882, he was named President of [[West Virginia University]] in [[Morgantown, West Virginia]], taking office on September 4. Wilson died in [[Lexington, Virginia]] on October 17, 1900 and is buried in Edgehill Cemetery in Charles Town, West Virginia. | |||
==Political career== | |||
Wilson was a delegate to the [[History of the Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic National Convention]] in 1880. Following his election to the House (and re-election five times) Wilson served on the [[Committee on Ways and Means]], chairing the Committee from 1893 to 1895, during which period he co-authored the [[Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act]] of 1895, which reduced the United States tariff rates from the numbers set by the earlier [[McKinley Tariff Act]] of 1890. | |||
As a House member, Wilson was a [[Bourbon Democrat]] | |||
Revision as of 14:55, 13 September 2020
'William Lyne Wilson' (May 3, 1843 – October 17, 1900) was a lawyer, member of Congress, cabinet member and university president from West Virginia. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1882, serving six terms in office ending in 1895. After leaving the House, he was appointed Postmaster General of the United States by President Grover Cleveland and remained in that post for two years (1895-1897) until the end of Cleveland’s term.
Early years
William L. Wilson was born in Charles Town, Virginia on May 3, 1843. After 1863, Charlestown was in the new state of West Virginia. As a young man, he attended Charles Town Academy, and graduated from Columbian College, later part of George Washington University in 1860. He also subsequently studied at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
During the Civil War (1861-1864) he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a private in the 12th Virginia Cavalry. Following the war, Wilson taught school for several years at Columbian College while studying in law school. He was admitted to the bar in 1869 and opened his own law office in Charles Town. He married the daughter of Rev. A.J. Huntington, professor of Greek at Columbian College. The couple had no children.
After he left Washington, Wilson was named President at Washington and Lee University in Lexington Virginia. In 1882, he was named President of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, taking office on September 4. Wilson died in Lexington, Virginia on October 17, 1900 and is buried in Edgehill Cemetery in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Political career
Wilson was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1880. Following his election to the House (and re-election five times) Wilson served on the Committee on Ways and Means, chairing the Committee from 1893 to 1895, during which period he co-authored the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1895, which reduced the United States tariff rates from the numbers set by the earlier McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. As a House member, Wilson was a Bourbon Democrat