William Henry Bagley

William Henry Bagley (July 5, 1833 – February 21, 1886) was an American military officer, politician, and newspaperman. He served as clerk of the North Carolina Supreme Court, having been elected January 18, 1869, and holding that position until his death, a little more than 17 years thereafter. He was appointed to the post of superintendent of the United States Mint at Charlotte, but could not accept the appointment as he did not qualify for it. He served as state senator for North Carolina's First Senatorial District.

Bagley was born in Perquimans County, North Carolina, on 5 July 1833, and was a son of Colonel Willis Bagley.

In 1852, Bagley was elected register of deeds of his native County, and held that position for several years. In 1855, he removed to Elizabeth City, in the adjacent county of Pasquotank, and there engaged in journalistic work as editor of the Sentinel. He also studied law, and was licensed to practice in 1859. In 1860, he was associated in the editorial management of another paper, the State, with James W. Hinton.

Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, Bagley entered the Confederate service, and was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company A, Eighth North Carolina Regiment, on May 16, 1861. This regiment being sent to join the forces engaged in the defenses around Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, Bagley was engaged in numerous actions in that vicinity until February 8, 1862, when he was captured by Burnside's expedition against Roanoke Island, where he was stationed.

Shortly after the Eighth Regiment reassembled, Bagley was promoted to the rank of captain, October 25, 1862, and assigned to his former company. He probably did not rejoin his company immediately, as about this time he had been elected state senator from the First Senatorial District, composed of the counties of Pasquotank and Perquimans.

On April 15, 1864, Bagley was commissioned Major of the Sixty-eighth Regiment. He did not remain with this regiment long, however, but resigned on June 11 in the same year. He again became a member of the State Senate in 1864.

In July, 1865, President Andrew Johnson appointed Bagley to the post of superintendent of the United States Mint at Charlotte, but the recipient of this appointment could not qualify as he was unable to take the "iron-clad oath" alleging that he had borne no part in what was then officially designated "the late Rebellion."

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