William Waightstill Avery
Encyclopedia
William Waightstill Avery (1816–1864) was a North Carolina
politician and lawyer. Born in Burke County, North Carolina
, he was the brother of Isaac E. Avery
, the son of Isaac Thomas Avery, and the grandson of Waightstill Avery
. In 1846 Avery married Mary Corinna Morehead, the daughter of Gov. John Motley Morehead
.
A Democrat
, Avery served in the North Carolina House of Commons and later in the North Carolina Senate
to which he was elected Speaker
in 1856. He ran for Congress
in 1858, but a split among the Democrats led to a victory by Zebulon B. Vance.
After North Carolina seceded from the union in 1861, Avery was chosen to represent the state in the Provisional Confederate Congress
. Then, he returned to Burke County to raise a regiment for the Confederate States Army
. He died in Morganton from wounds received in a skirmish with a party of Tennessee Unionists in 1864.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
politician and lawyer. Born in Burke County, North Carolina
Burke County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 89,148 people, 34,528 households, and 24,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 37,427 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
, he was the brother of Isaac E. Avery
Isaac E. Avery
Isaac Erwin Avery was a planter and an officer in the Confederate States Army. He died at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War...
, the son of Isaac Thomas Avery, and the grandson of Waightstill Avery
Waightstill Avery
Waightstill Avery was an early American lawyer and soldier. He is noted for fighting a duel with future U.S...
. In 1846 Avery married Mary Corinna Morehead, the daughter of Gov. John Motley Morehead
John Motley Morehead
John Motley Morehead was the 29th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1841 to 1845. He is known as "the Father of Modern North Carolina."...
.
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...
, Avery served in the North Carolina House of Commons and later in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
to which he was elected Speaker
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...
in 1856. He ran for Congress
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...
in 1858, but a split among the Democrats led to a victory by Zebulon B. Vance.
After North Carolina seceded from the union in 1861, Avery was chosen to represent the state in the Provisional Confederate Congress
Provisional Confederate Congress
The Provisional Confederate Congress, for a time the legislative branch of the Confederate States of America, was the body which drafted the Confederate Constitution, elected Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy, and designed the first Confederate flag...
. Then, he returned to Burke County to raise a regiment for 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...
. He died in Morganton from wounds received in a skirmish with a party of Tennessee Unionists in 1864.