Waitman T. Willey

Waitman Thomas Willey (* October 18, 1811 in Monongalia County, Virginia; † May 2, 1900 in Morgantown, West Virginia ) was an American politician ( Republican), who belonged to the U.S. Senate for the states of Virginia and West Virginia.

Born in what is now West Virginia Waitman T. Willey made ​​1831 his college degree in Madison (Pennsylvania). He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1833 and commenced practice in Morgantown as a lawyer. In 1841 he was appointed secretary of the District Court in Monongalia County; later he held the same position at the top district court. Both offices he held until 1852. In the years 1850 and 1851 he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Virginia.

After the outbreak of the Civil War Willey was elected to succeed the retiring James Murray Mason Senator for Virginia, a position he held from July 9, 1861 to March 3, 1863. In 1863 he participated in the Constituent Assembly of the new state of West Virginia, for he entered the U.S. Senate in the same year. After a re-election in 1865, he belonged to the chamber until March 3, 1871. During this time he was chairman of several Senate committees.

After he had again performed the duties of the court secretary in Monongalia County 1882-1896, is Waitman Willey withdrew from public life and died in 1900 in Morgantown.

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