William Robert Webb | |
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| United States Senator fromTennessee | |
| In office January 24, 1913 – March 3, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Newell Sanders |
| Succeeded by | John K. Shields |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1842-11-11)November 11, 1842 |
| Died | December 19, 1926(1926-12-19) (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Emma Clary |
| Children | William Robert, Jr. (1874–1960) Alla (1875–1944) John Stanford (1877–1951) Adeline (1879–1968) Susan (1882–1980) Emma (1884–1973) Thompson (1887–1975) |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Soldier, Educator |
William Robert Webb (November 11, 1842 – December 19, 1926) also known as "Sawney"Webb, was an educator who foundedthe Webb School and served briefly as aDemocraticUnited States Senator fromTennessee.
Webb was born nearMount Tirzah inPerson County, North Carolina.[1] He was the grandson ofRichard Stanford, an early ten-termUnited States Representative fromNorth Carolina.[1] His father, Alexander Webb, died when he was six years old.[2] He attendedprivate schools, including theBingham School inOaks, North Carolina, and then matriculated at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1860. However, he soon left to join theConfederate Army in the Fifteenth North Carolina Infantry Regiment, in which he served until badly wounded at theBattle of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862. While recovering from his wounds, he again attended UNC. In the spring of 1864, he re-enlisted as a private in the Second North Carolina Cavalry Regiment and had risen to the rank of Captain by the time of his capture on April 3, 1865, after theBattle of Namozine Church. He was imprisoned on Hart's Island in western Long Island Sound and then transferred toCastle Garden at the southern tip ofManhattan in June, 1865, from which he escaped for a one-day adventure in the city.[3] After the conclusion of theCivil War he returned to UNC, graduating in 1868 and subsequently teaching atHorner Military School inOxford, North Carolina until 1870.[1]
That year he moved to Tennessee and establishedThe Webb School, apreparatory school in the small community ofCulleoka. In 1886, after Culleokaincorporated and legalized the sale of liquor in the new city, he (being aprohibitionist) moved the Webb School toBell Buckle, where it still exists today.[2]
Webb married Emma Clary on April 23, 1873, and together they produced eight children: William Robert, Jr. (1874–1960), Alla (1875–1944), John Stanford (1877–1951), Adeline (1879–1968), Daniel Clary (1881–1954), Susan (1882–1980), Emma (1884–1973), and Thompson (1887–1975). His eldest son Will succeeded him as principal at the Webb School, and his youngest son Thompson founded the Webb School ofCalifornia (nowThe Webb Schools) in Claremont in 1922.[3]
He was elected to the United States Senate by theTennessee General Assembly to fill the vacancy caused by the death of SenatorRobert Love Taylor and served from January 24 to March 3, 1913. He was the last Confederate soldier to do so. Always a prohibitionist, he delivered his one speech in the Senate to support a law prohibiting interstate transport of liquor.[3] He then returned to Bell Buckle and his school, dying there in 1926[4] and being buried at Hazel Cemetery.
Media related toWilliam Robert Webb at Wikimedia Commons| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Tennessee 1913 Served alongside:Luke Lea | Succeeded by |
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| Class 2 | ||
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