Waller Taylor
Encyclopedia
Waller Taylor was an American military commander and politician.
where he spent his entire childhood. He studied law and served in the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1800 to 1802.
In 1804 he moved to Vincennes, Indiana
and practiced law there. He was appointed chancellor of the Indiana Territory in 1807. Also in 1807, he became a major in the territorial militia. He fought against Native Americans
and served as an aide-de-camp
to William Henry Harrison
during the Tecumseh's War
in 1809 to 1810. He participated in the Battle of Tippecanoe
.
Taylor continued in the United States Army during the War of 1812
and rose to the rank of adjutant general.
Taylor was a strong supporter of slavery
and believed that slavery should have been allowed in Indiana. The slavery party had lost its majority status in the 1809 election and Taylor was part of the pro-slavery party trying regain power. He campaigned to become the congressional representative for Indiana in 1812 but was defeated by Jonathan Jennings
. He had a hot temper and during the campaign challenged Jennings to a duel; Jennings declined.
In 1816, when Indiana
became a state, he was chosen along with James Noble
to join the United States Senate
as the first senators from Indiana. Taylor was elected to a full term in 1818 and left the Senate when that term expired in 1825.
Taylor was a member of the faction in the United States Senate that supported John Quincy Adams
and Henry Clay
. He was also associated with the United States Democratic-Republican Party and the United States National Republican Party.
Little else is known about the rest of Taylor's life except that he returned to Lunenburg, Virginia
, and died there a year after leaving the Senate, of natural causes.
Taylor was buried on his family's land in Lunenburg, Virginia
.
Biography
Taylor was born in Lunenburg County, VirginiaLunenburg County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,998 households, and 3,383 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 5,736 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
where he spent his entire childhood. He studied law and served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1800 to 1802.
In 1804 he moved to Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
and practiced law there. He was appointed chancellor of the Indiana Territory in 1807. Also in 1807, he became a major in the territorial militia. He fought against Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and served as an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
during the Tecumseh's War
Tecumseh's War
Tecumseh's War or Tecumseh's Rebellion are terms sometimes used to describe a conflict in the Old Northwest between the United States and an American Indian confederacy led by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh...
in 1809 to 1810. He participated in the Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
.
Taylor continued in the United States Army during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and rose to the rank of adjutant general.
Taylor was a strong supporter of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and believed that slavery should have been allowed in Indiana. The slavery party had lost its majority status in the 1809 election and Taylor was part of the pro-slavery party trying regain power. He campaigned to become the congressional representative for Indiana in 1812 but was defeated by Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings was the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman from Indiana. Born in Readington, New Jersey, he studied law with his brother before immigrating to Indiana in 1806 where he took part in land speculation...
. He had a hot temper and during the campaign challenged Jennings to a duel; Jennings declined.
In 1816, when Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
became a state, he was chosen along with James Noble
James Noble
James Noble was the first U.S. Senator from the U.S. state of Indiana.Noble was born near Berryville, Virginia and moved with his parents to Campbell County, Kentucky when he was 10...
to join the United States Senate
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...
as the first senators from Indiana. Taylor was elected to a full term in 1818 and left the Senate when that term expired in 1825.
Taylor was a member of the faction in the United States Senate that supported John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
and Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
. He was also associated with the United States Democratic-Republican Party and the United States National Republican Party.
Little else is known about the rest of Taylor's life except that he returned to Lunenburg, Virginia
Lunenburg, Virginia
Lunenburg is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 165. The community is also known as Lunenburg Courthouse or by an alternative spelling, Lunenburg Court House....
, and died there a year after leaving the Senate, of natural causes.
Taylor was buried on his family's land in Lunenburg, Virginia
Lunenburg, Virginia
Lunenburg is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 165. The community is also known as Lunenburg Courthouse or by an alternative spelling, Lunenburg Court House....
.