William Crosby Dawson (1798 - 1856)

Member of the United States Senate from Georgia

Chronological Biography

• Born in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, January 4, 1798 to George Dawson, Sr. and Katie Ruth Marsden (Marston).
• Took an academic course from the Rev. Dr. Cumming, attended the county academy in Greensboro, and then was graduated from Franklin College, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, in 1816 at the age of eighteen.
• Studied law for a year in the office of the Hon. Thomas W. Cobb, at Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, and then in the law school of Judges Reeve and Gould at Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
• Admitted to the bar in 1818, and practiced in Greensboro where he was a successful jury lawyer. He was known for his ability to settle cases out of court.
• Elected Clerk of the Georgia House of Representatives in 1821 and served ten to twelve years in that post.
• Compiled and published "Laws of Georgia" ca. 1831.
• Captain of Volunteers in the Creek and Seminole Indian War in Florida in 1836 under General Winfield Scott.
• Elected as a State Rights candidate to the Georgia House of Representatives for the 24th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of General John Coffee, then re-elected as a Whig to the 25th, 26th, and 27th Congresses. He served from November 7, 1836, to November 13, 1841, when he resigned. Chairman, Committee on Mileage (25th Congress), Committee on Claims (26th Congress), Committee on Military Affairs (27th Congress).
• Whig candidate for Governor of Georgia in 1841.
• Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Georgia from 1843 - 1856.
• Appointed by Governor Crawford to fill a vacancy as Judge of the Ocmulgee Circuit Court in 1845 but declined being a candidate for the bench.
• Elected as a Whig to the United States Senate for the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd Congresses, serving from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1855 as a member of the Georgia congressional delegation. Chairman, Committee on Private Land Claims (32nd Congress); presided over the Southern convention at Memphis in 1853.
• Died in Greensboro, Georgia, on May 5, 1856 and was buried in Greensboro Cemetery.

Eponymic Places Greensboro is a city located in Greene County, Georgia. ... Greene County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Arch, the gateway to UGAs historic North Campus. ... Downtown Athens, as seen through the University of Georgia arch Athens or Athens-Clarke County is a city located in Clarke County,Georgia, U.S., in the northeastern part of the state, just off of Georgia 316. ... Clarke County is a county in the Georgia. ... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Lexington is a city located in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. ... Oglethorpe County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Litchfield is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut. ... Litchfield County is located in the northwestern corner of the state of Connecticut. ... State nickname: The Constitution State Other U.S. States Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Governor M. Jodi Rell (R) Official languages English Area 14,371 km² (48th)  - Land 12,559 km²  - Water 1,809 km² (12. ... 1818 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... A lawyer is a person licensed by the state to advise clients in legal matters and represent them in courts of law (and in other forms of dispute resolution). ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1831 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Indian Wars were a series of conflicts between the United States and Native American peoples (Indians) of North America. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866) was a United States general, diplomat, and presidential candidate. ... The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the General Assembly (the state legislature) of Georgia. ... The United States Whig Party was a political party of the United States. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The United States Whig Party was a political party of the United States. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... the Square and Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The United States Whig Party was a political party of the United States. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... These are tables of congressional delegations from Georgia to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

• Dawson County, Georgia, and the county seat, Dawsonville, were named for William Crosby Dawson. The county was created by a legislative Act on December 3, 1857, primarily out of Lumpkin County and small parts of Gilmer, Pickens and Forsyth counties.
• Dawson, the county seat of Terrell County, Georgia was incorporated on December 22, 1857 and named for William Crosby Dawson.

Bibliography and Additional Resources Dawson County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Dawsonville is a city located in Dawson County, Georgia. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Lumpkin County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Gilmer County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Pickens County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Forsyth County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Dawson is a city located in Terrell County, Georgia. ... Terrell County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000156

NB: has error in date admitted to bar.

• American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Mellichamp, Josephine. 1976.) NV“William Dawson.” In Senators From Georgia, pp. 127-30. Huntsville, Ala.: Strode Publishers, 1976.

ISBN 0873970829

• A collection of family records, with biographical sketches and other memoranda of various families and individuals bearing the name Dawson, or allied to families of that name. Comp. by Charles C. Dawson, pp 368-385. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell, 1874.

http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=moa;idno=ABK6335.0001.001

• Historical Marker at Greene County Courthouse, Greensboro, Georgia

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/gahistmarkers/williamdawsonhistmarker.htm

• Will of George Dawson, Sr.

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/greene/wills/dawson556wl.txt