Robert Williams (American politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Williams was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
between 1797 and 1803 and the Governor of the Mississippi Territory
from 1805 to 1809
Born in Surry County, North Carolina
(present-day Forsyth County
), he received a liberal education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar.
In 1796, Williams was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 5th United States Congress
and re-elected to the 6th
and 7th
Congresses, serving from March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1803. In 1803, Williams was appointed by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson
to commission to ascertain the rights of persons claiming lands west of the Pearl River in Mississippi Territory and served in this capacity until 1807.
Williams was appointed the Governor of the Mississippi Territory
(see Governor of Mississippi) and served in that post from May 10, 1805 to March 3, 1809. Afterwards, he lived in Mississippi
and North Carolina
, where he practiced law and engaged in planting. He served as adjutant general
of North Carolina and finally moved to Ouachita, Louisiana, where he died in 1836. He is buried on his plantation near Monroe, Louisiana
.
Williams' brother Lewis Williams
was also a congressman from North Carolina. Another brother was U.S. Sen. John Williams
.
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 North Carolina
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...
between 1797 and 1803 and the Governor of the Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
from 1805 to 1809
Born in Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 73,673. Its county seat is Dobson.- History :The county was formed in 1771 from Rowan County...
(present-day Forsyth County
Forsyth County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile . There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile...
), he received a liberal education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar.
In 1796, Williams was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 5th United States Congress
5th United States Congress
The Fifth 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...
and re-elected to the 6th
6th United States Congress
The 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 at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1799...
and 7th
7th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore:** Abraham Baldwin , first elected December 7, 1801** Stephen R. Bradley , first elected December 14, 1802-House of Representatives:...
Congresses, serving from March 4, 1797 to March 3, 1803. In 1803, Williams was appointed by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
to commission to ascertain the rights of persons claiming lands west of the Pearl River in Mississippi Territory and served in this capacity until 1807.
Williams was appointed the Governor of the Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
(see Governor of Mississippi) and served in that post from May 10, 1805 to March 3, 1809. Afterwards, he lived in 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...
and North Carolina
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...
, where he practiced law and engaged in planting. He served as adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of North Carolina and finally moved to Ouachita, Louisiana, where he died in 1836. He is buried on his plantation near Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
.
Williams' brother Lewis Williams
Lewis Williams
For the Welsh rugby union player see Lewis Williams Lewis Williams was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1815 and 1842....
was also a congressman from North Carolina. Another brother was U.S. Sen. John Williams
John Williams (Tennessee)
John Williams was an American lawyer, soldier, and statesman, operating primarily out of Knoxville, Tennessee, in the first part of the 19th century. He represented Tennessee in the United States Senate from 1815 to 1823, when he lost reelection to Andrew Jackson. Williams also served as colonel...
.