William Carroll
Encyclopedia
William Carroll was Governor of Tennessee from 1821 to 1827 and again from 1829 to 1835. He and John Sevier
are the only two persons to serve twelve years (six two-year terms) in that office.
and Joseph McMinn
, Carroll was a native of Pennsylvania
, having been born near Pittsburgh
. He came to Tennessee
at the age of 18, and enjoyed considerable success in business prior to joining the militia in active service under Andrew Jackson
in the War of 1812
; he was a Major General at the Battle of New Orleans
. He was a successful and popular soldier, and used this and his relationship with Jackson to launch his political career. Like his mentor, he was a Democrat.
His governorship was noted for the establishment of a more progressive (for the era) Penal Code and the establishment of Chancery Court
. Term limits prevented him from serving over three terms consecutively and in 1827 he was succeeded by Sam Houston
; after Houston resigned as governor, Carroll successfully sought the office again and served three additional terms. During his final term the state constitution of 1796 was supplanted by a new one which gave more executive power to the governor; although this document was technically superseded by the current one in 1870, that document carries over very many of the provisions of the 1834 constitution, upon which it was largely based. Carroll served as governor of Tennessee longer than anyone else has to this point, even fellow six-term governor Sevier. Sevier's first term was unusually short due to the time of year of the admission of Tennessee into the Union. Carroll's gubernatorial service totalled 12 years and 12 days.
Carroll lived quietly after his terms as governor ended. Carroll County, Tennessee
, is named in his honor.
He was married to Cecilia Bradford, and they raised four children. One of their sons was future Confederate
Brig. Gen.
William Henry Carroll
.
John Sevier
John Sevier served four years as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years as Governor of Tennessee. As a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death...
are the only two persons to serve twelve years (six two-year terms) in that office.
Biography
Like two of his predecessors, Archibald RoaneArchibald Roane
Archibald Roane was the second Governor of Tennessee, serving from 1801 to 1803.-Biography:Roane was born in 1759 or 1760 in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, then a part of Lancaster County. He was the son of Andrew and Margaret Walker Roane...
and Joseph McMinn
Joseph McMinn
Joseph McMinn was governor of Tennessee from 1815 to 1821.-Biography:A native of Pennsylvania and a Quaker, he arrived in Tennessee in 1787. He was twice elected to serve in the legislature of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio , in 1794 and 1796...
, Carroll was a native of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, having been born near Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. He came to Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
at the age of 18, and enjoyed considerable success in business prior to joining the militia in active service under Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
; he was a Major General at the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
. He was a successful and popular soldier, and used this and his relationship with Jackson to launch his political career. Like his mentor, he was a Democrat.
His governorship was noted for the establishment of a more progressive (for the era) Penal Code and the establishment of Chancery Court
Chancery Court
The Chancery Court of York is an ecclesiastical court for the Province of York of the Church of England.The presiding officer, the Official Principal and Auditor, has been the same person as the Dean of the Arches since the nineteenth century . The Court comprises the Auditor, two clergy and two...
. Term limits prevented him from serving over three terms consecutively and in 1827 he was succeeded by Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
; after Houston resigned as governor, Carroll successfully sought the office again and served three additional terms. During his final term the state constitution of 1796 was supplanted by a new one which gave more executive power to the governor; although this document was technically superseded by the current one in 1870, that document carries over very many of the provisions of the 1834 constitution, upon which it was largely based. Carroll served as governor of Tennessee longer than anyone else has to this point, even fellow six-term governor Sevier. Sevier's first term was unusually short due to the time of year of the admission of Tennessee into the Union. Carroll's gubernatorial service totalled 12 years and 12 days.
Carroll lived quietly after his terms as governor ended. Carroll County, Tennessee
Carroll County, Tennessee
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 28,522. Its county seat is Huntingdon. It was named for Governor William Carroll.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, is named in his honor.
He was married to Cecilia Bradford, and they raised four children. One of their sons was future Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Brig. Gen.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
William Henry Carroll
William Henry Carroll
William Henry Carroll was a wealthy plantation owner, a postmaster, and a General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
.