Thomas Hill Williams | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator fromMississippi | |
| In office December 10, 1817 – March 3, 1829 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas B. Reed |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1773-01-14)January 14, 1773 |
| Died | December 7, 1850(1850-12-07) (aged 77) |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican,Jacksonian |
Thomas Hill Williams (January 14, 1773 – December 7, 1850)[1] was aUnited States Senator fromMississippi, one of the first two senators from that state. He served two terms of office, from 1817 to 1829, retiring to Tennessee after his retirement from politics.
Thomas Hill Williams was born inNorth Carolina, growing up just east of thePee Dee River in ruralAnson County.[1] He appears to have inherited some wealth at an early age, appearing on county tax rolls in 1795 as the owner of 681 acres of land.[1] It is believed that he entered politics at an early age and was elected clerk of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1796 and 1797.[1]
Williams completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and became a lawyer. In 1803 he made his way to theTerritory of Mississippi, soon becoming the private secretary to Territorial GovernorWilliam C. C. Claiborne.[1]
Williams was appointed register of theUnited States General Land Office for the Territory of Mississippi in 1805 by Secretary of StateJames Madison.[1] He was recognized as a popular and qualified appointee and named Acting Governor of the Mississippi Territory on July 1, 1805 in arecess appointment by PresidentThomas Jefferson.[1]
Williams was reappointed secretary in 1807, and was again Acting Governor in 1809. In 1810 he was collector ofcustoms atNew Orleans, and was a delegate to thestate constitutional convention.
Upon the admission of Mississippi as a state into the Union in 1817, Williams was elected as aDemocratic-Republican to the U.S. Senate, one of the first two senators from Mississippi.[2] He was reelected as aJackson Republican (laterJacksonian) in 1823, leaving the body with the expiration of his second term on March 3, 1829.
While a member the Senate Williams was a member of the Naval Affairs committee in five of his six Congresses and of the Public Lands committee in three of them.[1] He was chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Sixteenth Congress). He was a supporter of theMissouri Compromise during the session of 1820-21.[2]
Williams moved toTennessee after he left the Senate, declining a chance at reelection or any form of public office.[1] He died ofdropsy inRobertson County on December 7, 1850.[1]
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Mississippi 1817–1829 Served alongside:Walter Leake,David Holmes,Powhatan Ellis,Thomas B. Reed,Powhatan Ellis | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| Public Lands (1816–1921) | | |
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| Public Lands and Surveys (1921–1947) | ||
| Interior and Insular Affairs (1947–1977) | ||
| Energy and Natural Resources (1977–) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
