PROMIXENT PERSONS
245
department. These charges he promptly re-
futed, and a committee that included Daniel
Webster and John Randolph unanimously
declared them to be unfounded. But his
health rendered it impossible for him to con-
tinue in public life, and although he partially
regained his strength, he abstained from par-
ticipation in politics from that time. Upon
his return to Georgia he became circuit
judge, an office he continued to fill with
great efficiency, by successive elections in
1828 and 1831, almost until his death. He
opposed nullification, and his last days were
spent in retirement. Personally he was a
man of conspicuous social gifts, an admir-
able conversationalist, religious in his views
and feelings, and a supporter of Baptist con-
victions. At his home he dispensed a hearty
hospitality, and his name is eminent among
the illustrious citizens of Georgia. He died
in Elbert county, Georgia. September 15,
1S34.
Claiborne, William Charles Cole, was born in Sussex county, Virginia, in 1775, son of Col. William Claiborne, of King William county, Virginia, and Mary Leigh, his wife, daughter of Ferdinand Leigh. His educa- tion was a liberal one and he was well pre- pared for entrance to the legal profession. Having been duly admitted to the bar, he took up his residence in Nashville, Tennes- see, where he followed his profession with an extraordinary amount of success. He was soon appointed territorial judge, and assisted in the framing of the state consti- tution in 1796. As a representative of the Republican party he was elected to con- gress in 1797, serving from March 23, 1797, to March 3, 1801. He was appointed gov- ernor of Mississippi in 1802, and in the fol-
lowing year, in association with Gen. James
Wilkinson, became a commissioner to take
possession of Louisiana when it was pur-
chased from the French. After the new gov-
ernment had been well established he was
made governor in 1804, and when the prov-
ince became a state he was elected to the
same office by the people. The Republican
party of the new state chose him as their
representative in the United States senate,
but he died in New Orleans, Louisiana, No-
vember 2^, 1817, before taking his seat in
this body. He was brother of Gen. Ferdi-
nand Leigh Claiborne (q. v.).
Morgan, William, born in Culpeper coun- ty, Virginia, in 1775. He served under Gen. Jackson at the battle of Xew Orleans. He moved to Batavia, Xew York, and in 1826 it was rumored that he was about to publish an exposure of the secrets of freemasonry. He was taken by a party of men to Canan- daigua. on a criminal charge, was acquitted, and rearrested and lodged in jail, from which he was secretly taken. It was charged that he was drowned in Lake Ontario, Septem- ber 19. 1826. Based upon the feeling thus engendered, the political Anti-Masonic party was formed, which in 183 1 nominated Wil- liam Wirt for the presidency. The party was finally merged into the Whig party.
Campbell, Richard, was born in the Val- ley of Virginia. He was commissioned cap- tain in 1776, later became major, served in Gibson's regiment at Pittsburgh, and on Mcintosh's expedition against the Ohio In- dians in 1778. He led a relief party to Fort Laurens in June, 1779, and for a time was commander of that garrison. He was pro- moted lieutenant-colonel, and commanded a Virginia regiment at Guilford, Hobkirk's
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