Louis Trezevant Wigfall
|
The Honorable Louis Wigfall |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
|
Confederate States Senator from Texas |
|
|
In office February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865 |
|
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
|
United States Senator from Texas |
|
|
In office December 5, 1859 – March 23, 1861 |
|
| Preceded by | Matthias Ward |
| Succeeded by | James Flanagan |
| Member of the Texas Senate from District 8 | |
|
In office 1857–1859 |
|
| Preceded by | William Scott |
| Succeeded by | E.A. Blanch |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Louis Trezevant Wigfall April 21, 1816 Edgefield, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | February 18, 1874 (aged 57) Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
University of Virginia University of South Carolina, Columbia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–1862 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier-General
|
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Louis Trezevant Wigfall (April 21, 1816 – February 18, 1874) was an American politician from Texas who served as a member of the Texas Legislature, United States Senate, and Confederate Senate. Wigfall was among a group of leading secessionists known as Fire-Eaters, advocating the preservation and expansion of an agricultural society based on slave labor. He briefly served as a Confederate Brigadier General of the Texas Brigade at the outset of the American Civil War before taking his seat in the Confederate Senate. Wigfall's reputation for oratory and hard-drinking, along with a combative nature and high-minded sense of personal honor, made him one of the more imposing political figures of his time.
Wigfall was born on a plantation near Edgefield, South Carolina, to Levi Durant and Eliza Thomson Wigfall. His father, who died in 1818, was a successful Charleston merchant before moving to Edgefield. His mother was of the French Huguenot Trezavant family. She died when young Louis was 13. An older brother, Hamden, was killed in a duel. Another, Arthur, became a bishop in the Episcopal Church.
Tutored by a guardian until 1834, he then spent a year at Rice Creek Springs School, a military academy near Columbia, South Carolina, for children of elite aristocrats. He then entered the University of Virginia. A perceived insult by another student prompted the first of many dueling challenges he would make, but the affair was resolved peaceably.
...
Wikipedia