William L. Sharkey
Encyclopedia
William Lewis Sharkey was an American
judge
and politician
from Mississippi
.
, where he and his family lived until they moved to Warren County, Mississippi
, when he was six years of age. In 1822, he was accepted into the bar at Natchez
. Three years later he moved to Vicksburg
and after a few years was elected for a single term to the state House of Representatives
(1828–1829). He served briefly in 1832 as a circuit court
judge before being elected a justice
to the state supreme court later that year where he remained for 18 years until his resignation. Sharkey was appointed to the office of Secretary of War
by U.S. President Millard Fillmore
in 1851, but declined.
He was a member of the Whig Party and was strongly opposed to the secession
of Mississippi in 1861. Throughout the American Civil War
he remained a staunch Unionist and, according to one source, was "tolerated by his Confederate
neighbors only because of his towering reputation as a jurist
." Governor Charles Clark
appointed him in 1865 as a commissioner (along with William Yeager) to confer on behalf of the state with President Andrew Johnson
. In that year, Johnson appointed Sharkey to be provisional governor, leaving office with the election of Benjamin G. Humphreys
in October. He was elected Senator
in 1865 but was denied his seat by the United States Congress
. Sharkey died in Washington, D.C.
in 1873. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery
in Jackson, Mississippi
.
Sharkey County, Mississippi
is named after him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Biography
He was born in Sumner County, TennesseeSumner County, Tennessee
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 130,449. Its county seat is Gallatin, but its largest town is Hendersonville...
, where he and his family lived until they moved to Warren County, Mississippi
Warren County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:* Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 18,756 households, and 13,222 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile...
, when he was six years of age. In 1822, he was accepted into the bar at Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
. Three years later he moved to Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
and after a few years was elected for a single term to the state House of Representatives
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
(1828–1829). He served briefly in 1832 as a circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge before being elected a justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
to the state supreme court later that year where he remained for 18 years until his resignation. Sharkey was appointed to the office of Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
by U.S. President Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
in 1851, but declined.
He was a member of the Whig Party and was strongly opposed to the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of Mississippi in 1861. Throughout the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he remained a staunch Unionist and, according to one source, was "tolerated by his Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
neighbors only because of his towering reputation as a jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
." Governor Charles Clark
Charles Clark (governor)
Charles Clark was a Mississippi Democratic political figure, as well as a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:Clark was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1811...
appointed him in 1865 as a commissioner (along with William Yeager) to confer on behalf of the state with President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. In that year, Johnson appointed Sharkey to be provisional governor, leaving office with the election of Benjamin G. Humphreys
Benjamin G. Humphreys
Benjamin Grubb Humphreys was an American politician from Mississippi. He was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and served as Governor of Mississippi from 1865 to 1868, during Reconstruction.-Early life:Humphreys was born in Claiborne County, Mississippi, on the...
in October. He was elected Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1865 but was denied his seat by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Sharkey died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1873. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery
Greenwood Cemetery, Mississippi
Greenwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. Still in use, it was established by a federal land grant on November 21, 1821. It was originally known simply as "The Graveyard" and later as "City Cemetery" before the present name was adopted in 1899...
in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
.
Sharkey County, Mississippi
Sharkey County, Mississippi
-National protected area:*Delta National Forest*Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,580 people, 2,163 households, and 1,589 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 2,416 housing...
is named after him.