Alexander W. Terrell

Alexander W. Terrell
Born	Alexander Watkins Terrell November 23, 1827 Patrick County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	September 9, 1912 (aged 84) Mineral Wells, Texas, U.S.
Resting place	Texas State Cemetery
Alma mater	University of Missouri
Occupation	Lawyer, planter, diplomat
Spouse(s)	Ann Elizabeth Boulding Sarah D. Mitchell
Children	8
Parent(s)	Christopher Joseph Terrell Susan Kennerly

Alexander W. Terrell (November 23, 1827 – September 9, 1912) was an American judge, planter, Confederate veteran and diplomat. He served as the U. S. minister to Turkey and a Confederate military officer.

Alexander Watkins Terrell was born on November 23, 1827 in Patrick County, Virginia. His father was Christopher Joseph Terrell and his mother, Susan Kennerly. His Quaker family moved to Boonville, Missouri in 1831.

Terrell graduated from the University of Missouri and was admitted to the bar in 1849.

Terrell practiced law in St. Joseph, Missouri. In 1852, he moved to Austin, Texas. He served as a district court judge from 1857 until 1863.

On July 4, 1861, Terrell gave a speech on the Texas State Capitol in defense of the Confederate States of America. He drew a parallel between George Washington and the secession of the Confederacy.

When his term as judge came to an end, Terrell joined the First Texas Cavalry Regiment of the Confederate States Army as major. He fought in several major battles as part of the Red River Campaign including the Mansfield, Louisiana, in the spring of 1864. On May 16, 1865, Terrell was assigned to duty as a brigadier general by General E. Kirby Smith. He was never officially appointed by Confederate President Jefferson Davis and confirmed by the Confederate Senate to that grade. Davis had been captured by Union forces on May 10, 1865 and Smith soon would accept the Appomattox surrender terms agreed to by Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner on May 26, 1865, pending Smith's approval.

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