William Dunlap Simpson

William Dunlap Simpson (October 27, 1823 – December 26, 1890) was the 78th governor of South Carolina from February 26, 1879, when the previous governor, Wade Hampton, resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Senate, until 1880. That year Simpson resigned to become Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

For other uses, see William Dunlap (disambiguation).
William Dunlap Simpson
Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
In office
September 6, 1880 – December 26, 1890
Preceded byAmmiel J. Willard
Succeeded byHenry McIver
78th Governor of South Carolina
In office
February 26, 1879 – September 1, 1880
LieutenantNone
Preceded byWade Hampton III
Succeeded byThomas Bothwell Jeter
56th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
In office
December 14, 1876 – February 26, 1879
GovernorWade Hampton III
Preceded byRichard Howell Gleaves
Succeeded byJohn D. Kennedy
Member of the Confederate States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district
In office
February 5, 1863 – March 18, 1865
Preceded byMilledge Luke Bonham
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of the South Carolina Senate from Laurens District
In office
November 26, 1860 – February 5, 1863
Preceded byJames Henderson Irby
Succeeded byBarney Smith Jones
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Laurens District
In office
November 22, 1858 – November 26, 1860
In office
November 27, 1854 – November 24, 1856
Personal details
Born(1823-10-27)October 27, 1823
Laurens District, South Carolina
DiedDecember 26, 1890(1890-12-26) (aged 67)
Columbia, South Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJane Elizabeth Young
Children7
Alma materSouth Carolina College
Harvard Law School
ProfessionLawyer, politician
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States of America
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
Ranklieutenant colonel
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early life

Born in Laurens District, South Carolina, in 1823, he was educated at South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina), completing his studies in 1843. He spent one term at Harvard Law School. He practiced law in Laurens with his partner (and father-in-law) Henry Clinton Young. As of 1860, Simpson enslaved 31 people at his properties in Laurens.[1]

Political career

He served in the South Carolina legislature in the 1850s and early 1860s, and in the Confederate States House of Representatives from 1863 to 1865.[2][3][4]

After the Civil War, Simpson returned to practice law in Laurens until 1876, when he ran successfully for the post of lieutenant governor.[5] That year Democrats regained control of the state legislature and the governorship. He was re-elected in 1878. Upon Wade Hampton resigning from the governorship to assume his US Senate seat (to which he was elected by the state legislature), Simpson was elevated to become the 78th governor of South Carolina.[3][2]

Service as Chief Justice

In 1880 he resigned after being appointed Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court. He served for ten years from 1880 until his death in 1890. He is buried at the Laurens City Cemetery.

Legacy and honors

References
  1. "Simpson, William Dunlap". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Laurens, South Carolina. p. 1. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. Simpson, William Dunlap; Wight, Willard E. (October 1956). Wight, Willard (ed.). "Some Letters of William Dunlap Simpson 1860-1863". The South Carolina Historical Magazine. 57 (4): 204–205. JSTOR 27566082 – via JSTOR.
  3. "William Dunlap Simpson Papers, 1819-1951". UNC University Libraries. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  4. "Death of the Chief Justice". Herald & News. Newberry, South Carolina. January 1, 1891. p. 2. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  5. "William Dunlap Simpson". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  • Cooper, William (2005). The Conservative Regime: South Carolina, 1877-1890. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1-57003-597-0.
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