William H. West
Encyclopedia
William H. West was a Republican Party
politician in the U.S. state
of Ohio
who served as Ohio Attorney General
from 1866 to 1868, and a member of the Ohio Supreme Court
from February 1872 to 1873. His failing eyesight and powerful oration led to the title Blind Man Eloquent.
. In 1830, his parents settled on a farm in Knox County, Ohio
, near Mount Vernon
. In 1840 he entered the Martinsburg, Ohio
Academy. He taught and studied until entering Jefferson College in Pennsylvania
in 1844. He graduated second in his class of 58 in 1846.
West taught school in Kentucky
until 1848, when he accepted a tutorship at Jefferson College, and then a year later an adjunct professorship at Hampden-Sidney College. In 1850 he became a law student of William Lawrence at Bellefontaine, Ohio
. After admission to the bar
, West was law partner of Lawrence from July 1851 to February, 1854. In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Logan County, Ohio
, where he lived at Bellefontaine the rest of his life. He was an important force in the formation of the Republican Party in Ohio, and a prominent speaker at the Anti-Nebraska Party
convention in Columbus
in 1854. He was elected to represent his county in the Ohio House of Representatives
for the 53rd General Assembly, 1858–1859, declined nomination in 1859, and was elected to the 55th General Assembly, 1862-1863. West was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention
which nominated Abraham Lincoln
.
West was elected to the Ohio Senate
for the 56th General Assembly, 1864-1865. He was elected Ohio Attorney General in 1865 and then re-elected in 1867. In 1869, he was appointed United States Consul to Rio de Janeiro
by President Grant
, and confirmed by the Senate, but declined. In 1871, West was elected a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, but resigned after about a year due to failing eyesight. In 1873, he was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
In 1877, West was nominated by his party for Governor. A railroad strike was in progress at the time of the convention, and West spoke to an assembled crowd. He took the side of labor. This helped contribute to his defeat that autumn.
West presented James G. Blaine
for nomination for President at the 1884 Republican National Convention, with the understanding that he would be appointed Attorney General if Blaine should be President. Blaine lost.
West was married twice. He died at his home in Bellefontaine on March 14, 1911.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who served as Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
from 1866 to 1868, and a member of the Ohio Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the U.S. state of Ohio, with final authority over interpretations of Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. The court has seven members, a chief justice and six associate justices, each serving six-year terms...
from February 1872 to 1873. His failing eyesight and powerful oration led to the title Blind Man Eloquent.
Biography
William H. West was born in Millsborough, Washington County, PennsylvaniaWashington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
. In 1830, his parents settled on a farm in Knox County, Ohio
Knox County, Ohio
Knox County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 60,921. Its county seat is Mount Vernon and is named for Henry Knox, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was later the first Secretary of War....
, near Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16,990 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is named after Mount Vernon, the plantation owned by George Washington.-History:...
. In 1840 he entered the Martinsburg, Ohio
Martinsburg, Ohio
Martinsburg is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 185 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martinsburg is located at ....
Academy. He taught and studied until entering Jefferson College in 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...
in 1844. He graduated second in his class of 58 in 1846.
West taught school in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
until 1848, when he accepted a tutorship at Jefferson College, and then a year later an adjunct professorship at Hampden-Sidney College. In 1850 he became a law student of William Lawrence at Bellefontaine, Ohio
Bellefontaine, Ohio
Bellefontaine is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,069 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003...
. After admission 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...
, West was law partner of Lawrence from July 1851 to February, 1854. In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Logan County, Ohio
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, where he lived at Bellefontaine the rest of his life. He was an important force in the formation of the Republican Party in Ohio, and a prominent speaker at the Anti-Nebraska Party
Anti-Nebraska Party
The Anti-Nebraska Party was an American political party formed in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Its founders, including Salmon P. Chase, held deep moral opposition to slavery, and were thus appalled by legislation that could lead to more slave-holding states...
convention in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in 1854. He was elected to represent his county in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
for the 53rd General Assembly, 1858–1859, declined nomination in 1859, and was elected to the 55th General Assembly, 1862-1863. West was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
which nominated Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.
West was elected to the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
for the 56th General Assembly, 1864-1865. He was elected Ohio Attorney General in 1865 and then re-elected in 1867. In 1869, he was appointed United States Consul to Rio de Janeiro
United States Ambassador to Brazil
The following is a list of Ambassadors of the United States, or other chiefs of mission, to Brazil. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
by President Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, and confirmed by the Senate, but declined. In 1871, West was elected a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, but resigned after about a year due to failing eyesight. In 1873, he was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
In 1877, West was nominated by his party for Governor. A railroad strike was in progress at the time of the convention, and West spoke to an assembled crowd. He took the side of labor. This helped contribute to his defeat that autumn.
West presented James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
for nomination for President at the 1884 Republican National Convention, with the understanding that he would be appointed Attorney General if Blaine should be President. Blaine lost.
West was married twice. He died at his home in Bellefontaine on March 14, 1911.