William Henry Bissell
| William Henry Bissell | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 11th Governor of Illinois | |
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In office January 12, 1857 – March 18, 1860 |
|
| Lieutenant | John Wood |
| Preceded by | Joel Aldrich Matteson |
| Succeeded by | John Wood |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 8th district | |
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In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | James L. D. Morrison |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district | |
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In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Smith |
| Succeeded by | Elihu B. Washburne |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
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In office 1840-1842 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 25, 1811 Hartwick, New York |
| Died | March 18, 1860 (aged 48) Springfield, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic, Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Emily Susan Jones |
| Profession | Physician, lawyer, politician |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1847 |
| Rank |
 Colonel
|
| Commands | 2nd Illinois Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
William Henry Bissell (April 25, 1811 – March 18, 1860) was the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1857 until his death. He was one of the first successful Republican Party candidates, winning the election of 1856 just two years after the founding of his party.
Bissell was born in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, son of Luther Bissell (1773-1853) and Hannah Shepard. He attended the public schools and was graduated from the Philadelphia Medical College in 1835. He moved to Monroe County, Illinois in 1837 where he taught school and practiced medicine until 1840.
From 1840 to 1842, Bissell was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois. He was prosecuting attorney of St. Clair County in 1844. He served in the Mexican War as colonel of the Second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Bissell was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses and as an Independent Democrat to the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1855); he was chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs (Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1854.
Bissell, true to his anti-slavery convictions, held a very definite dislike for his Southern colleagues, whom he described collectively as "insolent, overbearing and bullying beyond all belief." A nearly hour-long speech on the House floor, in retaliation for distortive comments made by James A. Seddon (D-VA), re: the Battle of Buena Vista, won approval from Bissell's fellow Illinoisans, but inflamed Jefferson Davis, who felt personally slighted by the speech. Davis challenged Bissell to a duel, which Northern Congressmen were known to refuse. Bissell not only accepted the challenge, but in his rights as the party challenged, specified army muskets, loaded with ball and buckshot, at close range. Davis then cleverly accepted further explanation for the seemingly offensive comments in Bissell's speech, but lost face with some in backing down.
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