William Carroll (March 3, 1788March 22, 1844) was an American politician who served as the fifth governor of Tennessee twice, from 1821 to 1827 and again from 1829 to 1835. He held the office longer than any other person with 12 years of service, including the state's only other six-term governor, John Sevier. He is considered one of the state's most popular political figures of the 1820s, and is credited with initiating numerous legal and tax reforms.

Carroll joined the Tennessee militia as a captain in 1812, and quickly rose through the ranks. He participated in several engagements during the Creek War, and, as a major-general, commanded Andrew Jackson's center at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Early life

Like two of his predecessors, Archibald Roane and Joseph McMinn, Carroll was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born near Pittsburgh.

His father, Thomas Carroll, was a business associate of Albert Gallatin, and had established a successful chain of hardware stores in the Pittsburgh area. William Carroll had little formal education as a child, but acquired practical learning from working in his father's business. He presented himself to Andrew Jackson with a letter of introduction from Gallatin.

After the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Carroll returned to Nashville to recruit troops for the defense of New Orleans. After Jackson resigned from the militia to accept a commission in the federal army, Carroll was elected major-general of the Tennessee militia. Traveling via the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, his new troops arrived in New Orleans just prior to the British invasion. At the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, Carroll's troops fought near the center of Jackson's line, where some of the most intense fighting occurred. During the Panic of 1819, Carroll's business failed, and he was forced into bankruptcy.

In 1821, Carroll, still immensely popular from his War of 1812 endeavors, ran for governor. Although his opponent, Edward Ward, was backed by the state's political elite, including Andrew Jackson, Hugh Lawson White and Joseph McMinn, Carroll gained the support of Jackson foes John Williams and Davy Crockett, and was able to harness the anti-establishment sentiment that had arisen in the wake of the financial crisis.

Carrol's governorship was noted for the establishment of a more progressive (for the era) Penal Code, which replaced corporal punishment with a state prison system, as well as the establishment of an insane asylum and the establishment of a Chancery Court.

He also persistently advocated for government-funded internal improvements, which helped the state's businesses. During his final term, the state constitution of 1796 was supplanted by a new one which gave more executive power to the governor; although this document was technically superseded by the current one in 1870, that document carries over very many of the provisions of the 1834 constitution, upon which it was largely based.

Popular provisions in the new constitution included an equitable land tax (which benefited small farmers) and the requirement that county officials be popularly elected, rather than appointed.

Legacy

Carroll County, Tennessee, is named in his honor.

Carroll County, Arkansas, although disputed, is believed by some historians to be named in his honor. As support for this theory, historians point to the fact that a large percentage of the Carroll County, Arkansas population is reported to have emigrated from Overton County, Tennessee during his popular governorship.

Carrollton, New Orleans, Louisiana, is named in his honor.

Family life

He was married to Cecilia Bradford, and they raised four children. One of their sons was Confederate Brigadier General William Henry Carroll.

See also

  • General Carroll's Road

References

  • National Governors Association – bio of Carroll
  • The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
  • Find A Grave
  • Governor William Carroll Papers, 1821 - 1827, Tennessee State Library and Archives.