William E. Simonds
Encyclopedia
William Edgar Simonds was a United States Representative
from Connecticut
and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award, the Medal of Honor
, for his actions as a soldier in the American Civil War
.
, Simonds attended the public school and Collinsville High School. He graduated from Connecticut State Normal School at New Britain
in 1860 and became a teacher.
in Company A of the 25th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, on August 18, 1862. He was promoted to Sergeant Major before being mustered into the service. On April 14, 1863, he participated in the Battle of Irish Bend
, Louisiana
. It was for his actions at Irish Bend that he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. Ten days after the battle he became a commissioned officer with a promotion to second lieutenant and was re-assigned to Company I of his regiment.
and graduated in 1865. He was admitted to the bar
and commenced the practice of law in Hartford, Connecticut
. He served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
in 1883 and 1885, and served as Speaker
in the latter year.
Simonds was elected as a Republican
to the 51st United States Congress
(March 4, 1889-March 3, 1891). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the 52nd Congress
. He then served as United States Commissioner of Patent
s from 1891 to 1893.
On February 25, 1899, he was issued the Medal of Honor for his action at the Battle of Irish Bend thirty-six years earlier.
After leaving politics, Simonds resumed the practice of law. He died in Hartford, Connecticut
, on March 14, 1903, and was buried at Canton Center Cemetery in his hometown of Canton, Connecticut.
Citation
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 Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, for his actions as a soldier in 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...
.
Early life and education
Born in Collinsville, a neighborhood of Canton, ConnecticutCanton, Connecticut
Canton is a rural town, incorporated in 1806, in Hartford County, Connecticut. The population was 8,840 at the 2000 census, and has grown to 10,292 as of the 2010 census. It is bordered by Granby on the north, Simsbury on the east, Avon and Burlington on the south, New Hartford on the west, and...
, Simonds attended the public school and Collinsville High School. He graduated from Connecticut State Normal School at New Britain
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
in 1860 and became a teacher.
Military career
During the Civil War, Simonds enlisted as a privatePrivate (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Company A of the 25th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, on August 18, 1862. He was promoted to Sergeant Major before being mustered into the service. On April 14, 1863, he participated in the Battle of Irish Bend
Battle of Irish Bend
The Battle of Irish Bend, also known as Nerson's Woods or Franklin, was fought between Union Major General Nathaniel Prentice Banks against Confederate Major General Richard Taylor during Banks's operations against the Bayou Teche region near Franklin, the seat of St...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It was for his actions at Irish Bend that he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. Ten days after the battle he became a commissioned officer with a promotion to second lieutenant and was re-assigned to Company I of his regiment.
Political career
After his military service, Simonds attended Yale Law SchoolYale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
and graduated in 1865. He was admitted 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...
and commenced the practice of law in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. He served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
in 1883 and 1885, and served as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
in the latter year.
Simonds was elected as a Republican
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...
to the 51st United States Congress
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar 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 in Washington, D.C...
(March 4, 1889-March 3, 1891). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the 52nd Congress
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second 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 in Washington, D.C...
. He then served as United States Commissioner of Patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s from 1891 to 1893.
On February 25, 1899, he was issued the Medal of Honor for his action at the Battle of Irish Bend thirty-six years earlier.
After leaving politics, Simonds resumed the practice of law. He died in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, on March 14, 1903, and was buried at Canton Center Cemetery in his hometown of Canton, Connecticut.
Medal of Honor citation
ank and organization: Sergeant Major, 25th Connecticut Infantry. Place and date: At Irish Bend, La., April 14, 1863. Entered service at: Canton, Conn. Birth: ------. Date of issue: February 25, 1899.Citation
Displayed great gallantry, under a heavy fire from the enemy, in calling in the skirmishers and assisting in forming the line of battle.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: Q–S