William E. Simms

William Simms
Confederate States Senator from Kentucky
In office February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 8th district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 4, 1861
Preceded by	James Clay
Succeeded by	John Crittenden
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office 1849-1851
Personal details
Born	(1822-01-02)January 2, 1822 Cynthiana, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	June 25, 1898(1898-06-25) (aged 76) Paris, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Transylvania University

William Emmett Simms (January 2, 1822 – June 25, 1898) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky. He also served as a commissioner for the Confederate government of Kentucky and in several posts in the Confederate States government during the American Civil War.

Simms was born near Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky. He attended the public schools, and was graduated from the law department of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1846. He was admitted to the bar in 1846 and commenced practice in Paris, Kentucky.

Simms served as a captain in the United States Army throughout the Mexican War, and was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851. He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861), but unsuccessfully ran for reelection in 1860.

On October 21, 1861, Simms was appointed to the temporary rank of colonel in the Confederate Army. He was appointed lieutenant colonel in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States on December 24, 1861, and was assigned to the First Battalion, Kentucky Cavalry. He resigned his commission on February 17, 1862, having been chosen as one of two senators from Kentucky to the Confederate States Congress. He was a member of the Senate of the First and Second Confederate Congresses and also served in President Davis' Cabinet.

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