Charles Willing Byrd

Charles Willing Byrd ( born July 26, 1770 in Westover, Arlington County, Virginia; † August 25, 1828 in Sinking Springs, Ohio ) was an American politician and from 1802 to 1803 governor of the Northwest Territory.

Early years

Byrd was born in 1770 as the son of a rich and influential family. This ensured a good education of her son. He attended until 1794 the best schools in Philadelphia. There he also studied law. Between 1794 and 1797 he worked on behalf of the financier Robert Morris in Kentucky today as a real estate dealer and land seller. He then returned for a short time to Philadelphia.

Rise in the Northwest Territory

In 1799, Byrd moved to the Northwest Territory. Due to his legal skills, he managed to ascend to the political leadership of the territory. President John Adams appointed him as the successor to William Henry Harrison in his capacity as Secretary of State in this field. After the incumbent territorial governor Arthur St. Clair had been dismissed by President Thomas Jefferson Byrd officiated both as Secretary of State as well as territorial governor until 1803, when the state of Ohio was created. At the same time he was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Ohio.

Legal career in Ohio

With the accession of the new State of Ohio to the United States Byrds extinguished existing state offices. On 3 March 1803 he was appointed by President Jefferson as a judge at the Federal District Court for the District of Ohio. This office he retained until his death in 1828. Early 19th century, Byrd was also active for the sect of the "Shaker ", which he supported financially.