William Henry Forney was a U.S. Representative

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 from Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...

. He was the grandson of Peter Forney

Peter Forney

Peter Forney was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina; born near Lincolnton, North Carolina, April 21, 1756; attended the public schools; served as a captain during the Revolutionary War; engaged in the manufacture of iron; member of the North Carolina House of Commons 1794-1796; served in...

 and nephew of Daniel Munroe Forney

Daniel Munroe Forney

Daniel Munroe Forney was a United States Congressional Representative from North Carolina. He was born near Lincolnton, North Carolina, in May 1784, the son of Peter Forney....

 and the brother of John Horace Forney

John Horace Forney

John Horace Forney was a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...

.

Biography

Forney was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina

Lincolnton, North Carolina

Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...

 but moved with his parents to Alabama as a child. He was the older brother of Confederate Brigadier General John Horace Forney

John Horace Forney

John Horace Forney was a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...

, first cousin of Confederate Brigadier General Robert Daniel Johnston

Robert Daniel Johnston

Robert Daniel Johnston was a brigadier beneral for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.-Early life:...

 and second cousin of Confederate Major Generals Robert F. Hoke and Stephen Dodson Ramseur

Stephen Dodson Ramseur

Stephen Dodson Ramseur was one of the youngest Confederate generals in the American Civil War. He was mortally wounded in battle at the Battle of Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley.-Early life:...

. Forney pursued an education in classical studies, and graduated from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1844.
He served in the Mexican War

Mexican–American War

The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...

 as a first lieutenant in the First Regiment of Alabama Volunteers. Upon returning from the War, Forney studied law and was admitted to the bar

Admission to the bar in the United States

In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...

 in 1848 and commenced practice in Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...

.
Forney served as a Trustee

Trustee

Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...

 of the University of Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....

 from 1851-1860. In 1859 and 1860, Forney served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Civil War

During the Civil War Forney entered the Confederate States Army

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...

 in 1861 as a captain in the 10th Regiment Alabama Infantry

10th Regiment Alabama Infantry

The 10th Regiment Alabama Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Alabama was mustered in at Montgomery, Alabama on June 4, 1861....

, and was successively promoted to major

Major (United States)

In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...

, lieutenant colonel

Lieutenant Colonel (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...

, colonel

Colonel (United States)

In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...

, and brigadier general. He served until the surrender at Appomattox.

Post-War career

After the War, Forney served as member of the State senate in 1865 and 1866. He was elected as a Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 to the Forty-fourth

44th United States Congress

The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...

 and to the eight succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1893).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Forty-sixth

46th United States Congress

The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...

 Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892.

He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland

Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...

 to be a member of the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission and served until his death in Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, January 16, 1894. He was interred in City Cemetery.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals