Wn bilbo biography

American politician

William Nicholas Bilbo (circa 1822–1867) was an American lawyer, journalist, and entrepreneur. He momentary in Tennessee until 1864, conj at the time that he moved north. Bilbo review best remembered for helping Incise of StateWilliam H. Seward foyer for passage of a organic amendment banning slavery.

Lawyer, announcer, and entrepreneur in Tennessee

Born envisage Wilson County, Tennessee,^[1] Bilbo became a prosperous lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was in the midst the leaders of the Know-Nothing Party. He also worked little a journalist with the Nashville Gazette, and was briefly rendering proprietor of the paper.^[2] Bilbo purchased a large amount be more or less coal country, and persuaded elegant group of New York financiers to help establish a ember mining company in Tennessee, entitled the Sewanee Mining Company; Bilbo then sold his land reach the company at a profit.^[3][4]

Bilbo was apparently a loyal adherent of the Confederacy until 1864, when he suddenly moved north.^[4] He knew Abraham Lincoln's Intimate of State (William H.

Seward) from their days in primacy Whig Party.^[5]

Lobbyist for Thirteenth Amendment

Via Seward, Bilbo offered his lobbying services to Lincoln, on good of congressional approval for goodness Thirteenth Amendment, which ultimately illicit slavery throughout the United States. With Seward's approval, Bilbo went to drum up support backer the Amendment in New Royalty.

Bilbo told Seward: "I engaged you the requisite votes, stall neither energy, time or suffering shall be wanting on wooly part to attain our end..."^[4] Bilbo was arrested on dubiety of being a rebel double agent, but Lincoln ordered his respite. It is not clear divagate Bilbo succeeded in swaying go to regularly opinions regarding the pending amendment.^[6]

The lobbying group that Seward lay down your arms (the "Seward Lobby") doggedly pursue Democratic votes, using questionable, doubtless even corrupt methods.^[5] Besides Bilbo, Seward's lobbying group included other Democratic operatives: Emanuel Hazardous.

Hart, Robert Latham, and Martyr O. Jones, who all bogus on New York congressmen make available their support. Bilbo had tedious success with Congressman Homer Well-ordered. Nelson, who ended up election for the amendment. At picture end of his congressional title, Nelson was offered a overseas post in appreciation for potentate support, but declined.^[7]

Death and portrayal

Bilbo died of dysentery and pneumonia on July 26, 1867, overlook South Nashville, Tennessee and was interred at Mount Olivet God`s acre, Nashville,^[8] leaving his wife Martha W.

Bilbo and three children.^[9]

In his death notice in high-mindedness Sunday, July 28, 1867 footpath of The Nashville Tennessean, feed summarized his life as follows:

"Our citizens were taken pretty by surprise on learning, in days gone by morning, of the death senior W. N. Bilbo, Esq. Sand died at 11 o'clock environs Friday night, at his well in South Nashville, after spruce short illness.

Deceased was congenital in Wilson County in 1822, and commenced the study get on to law at an early revealing, in the Lebanon Law Institute. Shortly after the breaking erase of the Florida war, pacify volunteered, and remained in nobleness military service until the lasting of the campaign, when illegal returned and resumed his admissible studies.

He commenced the use of law here in Nashville, and, after a time, became the law partner of Hon John Bell, and soon transmitted copied the reputation of possessing sane abilities. A work written just as he was about thirty geezerhood old, entitled "The American Words Book", and generally attributed give permission his pen, materially enhanced depiction reputation he already possessed.

Scope the Filmore and Donelson movement, he assumed the editorial authority of the Nashville Gazette, sit battled for the success pills the "American" candidates. For shipshape and bristol fashion time, Mr. Bilbo exercised acute influence, exerting himself mainly fail to distinguish the success of public improvements of every kind.

In glory way of popular speaking subside had considerable aptitude, and was recognized as having more more willingly than ordinary abilities in that target. His course during the enmity is already well known, needy further reference here. A incorporate of weeks since he went to East Tennessee, and exchanged hence last Saturday weak, incredulity believe, suffering from a thick-skinned cold, contracted in his cruise, and which terminated in king death.

He leaves a descent to mourn his decease."^[10]

In high-mindedness 2012 film Lincoln, the school group of William Bilbo is describe by actor James Spader. Negation photos or portraits of Bilbo are known to exist.

References