Hendricks, William

William Hendricks
Governor William Hendricks
Indiana Territorial Legislature
In office 1813–1816
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's at-large district
In office December 11, 1816 – July 25, 1822
Preceded by	Jonathan Jennings
Succeeded by	Jonathan Jennings
3rd Governor of Indiana
In office December 5, 1822 – February 12, 1825
Lieutenant	Ratliff Boon
Preceded by	Ratliff Boon
Succeeded by	James B. Ray
United States Senator from Indiana
In office March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1837
Preceded by	Waller Taylor
Succeeded by	Oliver H. Smith
Personal details
Born	November 12, 1782 Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Died	May 16, 1850(1850-05-16) (aged 67) Madison, Indiana
Political party	Democrat Anti-Jacksonian Whig
Spouse(s)	Ann Parker Paul
Alma mater	Jefferson College

William Hendricks (November 12, 1782 – May 16, 1850) was a Democratic-Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1822, the third Governor of Indiana from 1822 to 1825, and an Anti-Jacksonian member of the U.S. Senate from 1825 to 1837. He led much of his family into politics and founded one of the largest political families in Indiana. He was the uncle of Thomas Andrews Hendricks, who was also Governor of Indiana and Vice President of the United States. Hendricks County was named in his honor. His term as governor was spent repairing the state's finances to later enable large scale internal improvements. The establishment of the basic framework of the state's public school system and the transfer of the capital from Corydon to Indianapolis also occurred during his term.

Hendricks was born in Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1782, the son of Abraham and Ann Jamison Hendricks. His father was a prominent man in the community and a state legislator. He was the brother of Thomas Hendricks and John Hendricks, the uncle of Vice President Thomas Andrews Hendricks, and the father of William Hendricks Jr.

He attended a common school in Ligonier Valley where he was a classmate of Jonathan Jennings and William W. Wick, who later became his close political allies. After completion of the lower grades Hendricks attended Jefferson College (now Washington & Jefferson College) until 1810. After completing college he moved west to Ohio where his older brother Obadiah operated a law practice, and briefly lived in his home. He studied law with him a short time and was admitted to the bar. From 1810 to 1812 he made a living as a school teacher while he studied law in Cincinnati and lived in the home of his sister, Ann. He remained there until he was admitted to the bar.