Brigadier-General William Wirt Adams |
|
---|---|
Nickname(s) | "Wirt" |
Born |
Frankfort, Kentucky |
March 22, 1819
Died | May 1, 1888 Jackson, Mississippi |
(aged 69)
Buried at | Greenwood Cemetery, Jackson, Mississippi |
Allegiance |
Republic of Texas Confederate States of America |
Service/branch |
Texas Militia Confederate States Army |
Years of service | 1839 (Republic of Texas) 1861-1865 (CSA) |
Rank |
Captain (Texas militia) Brigadier General (CSA) |
Commands held | Adams' Tennessee Cavalry Regiment Adams' Brigade |
Battles/wars | |
Spouse(s) | Sally Mayrant |
Relations |
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Other work | Postmaster |
William Wirt Adams (March 22, 1819 – May 1, 1888) was a banker, planter, state legislator, and Brigadier-General in the Confederate States Army.
Adams was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, to Anna Weisiger Adams and Judge George Adams (a personal friend to American statesman and orator Henry Clay). He was a brother of Daniel Weisiger Adams, another future Civil War general. In 1825 his family moved to and settled in Natchez, Mississippi. His father was a district court judge for the state of Mississippi from 1836 to 1839. William attended college at Bardstown College in Bardstown, Kentucky. Upon graduation in 1839, he enlisted as a private for the Republic of Texas under Edward Burleson, received a commission to adjutant of the regiment, and was involved in the Military campaign of northeast Texas against Native Americans settled there.
He returned to Mississippi where he married Sallie Huger Mayarant in 1850. There he pursued banking and planting in Jackson, Mississippi, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. From 1850 to 1861, he owned and operated a successful business and, from 1858 to 1860, he served two sessions in the Mississippi House of Representatives.