William Elliott (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Elliott was a U.S. Representative
from South Carolina
.
Born in Beaufort, South Carolina
, Elliott attended Beaufort College and Harvard University
.
He studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and was admitted to the bar
in Charleston, South Carolina
, in 1861.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War
entered the Confederate States Army
as a lieutenant and served throughout the war, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.
At the close of the war he commenced the practice of law in Beaufort, South Carolina
.
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1866.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1876.
He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1884 to the Forty-ninth
Congress.
Elliott was elected as a Democrat
to the Fiftieth
Congress (March 4, 1887-March 3, 1889). He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Fifty-first
Congress and served from March 4, 1889, until September 23, 1890, when he was succeeded by Thomas E. Miller
, who contested the election.
Elliott was elected to the Fifty-second
Congress (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1893).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Fifty-fourth
Congress and served from March 4, 1895, until June 4, 1896, when he was succeeded by George W. Murray
, who contested the election.
Elliott was elected to the Fifty-fifth
, Fifty-sixth
and Fifty-seventh
Congresses (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1903).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1902, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
.
He was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt
in 1906 as commissioner of the United States to mark the graves of Confederate dead in the North and served in this capacity until his death in Beaufort, South Carolina
, on December 7, 1907.
He was interred in St. Helena Churchyard.
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 South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Born in Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
, Elliott attended Beaufort College and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
He studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and 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...
in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, in 1861.
Upon the outbreak of the 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...
entered 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...
as a lieutenant and served throughout the war, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.
At the close of the war he commenced the practice of law in Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
.
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1866.
He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1876.
He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1884 to the Forty-ninth
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth 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. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
Congress.
Elliott was elected as 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...
to the Fiftieth
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth 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. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
Congress (March 4, 1887-March 3, 1889). He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Fifty-first
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...
Congress and served from March 4, 1889, until September 23, 1890, when he was succeeded by Thomas E. Miller
Thomas E. Miller
Thomas Ezekiel Miller was an American politician, educator, and lawyer. An African-American from South Carolina, he was a prominent leader in the struggle for civil rights in the American South during and after Reconstruction. He was a school commissioner, state legislator, U.S...
, who contested the election.
Elliott was elected to the Fifty-second
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...
Congress (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1893).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
Congress and served from March 4, 1895, until June 4, 1896, when he was succeeded by George W. Murray
George W. Murray
George Washington Murray was born a slave and served as a Congressman from South Carolina.He was born a slave near Rembert, Sumter County, South Carolina on September 22, 1853. Murray attended the public schools and the University of South Carolina at Columbia for two years...
, who contested the election.
Elliott was elected to the Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
, Fifty-sixth
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
and Fifty-seventh
57th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:*Democratic: 151*Republican: 200 *Populist: 5*Silver : 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Theodore Roosevelt , until September 14, 1901, vacant thereafter....
Congresses (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1903).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1902, but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to 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...
.
He was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in 1906 as commissioner of the United States to mark the graves of Confederate dead in the North and served in this capacity until his death in Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
, on December 7, 1907.
He was interred in St. Helena Churchyard.