William Davidson (February 14, 1783 – March 2, 1867) was an American politician fromPennsylvania who served as aDemocratic member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from 1814 to 1818 including as Speaker of the House from 1817 to 1818 and as anIndependent Republican member of thePennsylvania Senate for the17th district from 1817 to 1824.[1]
Davidson was born inCarlisle, Pennsylvania. He served asprothonotary and worked as manager of the Laurel Furnace inBedford County, Pennsylvania. In 1808, he moved toConnellsville, Pennsylvania, and worked asironmaster at the Breakneck Furnace. He served in theWar of 1812 and was held as a prisoner of war afterFort Detroit was surrendered byWilliam Hull. After the war, he returned to Connellsville, married the widow Sarah Rogers Blackstone and together they had five children.
He served as a Democrat in thePennsylvania House of Representatives from 1814 to 1818 and was elected as the 52nd Speaker of the House on December 2, 1817.[2] He also served in thePennsylvania Senate for the 17th district from 1817 to 1824.[1]
He died on March 2, 1867, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
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