William Wilkins (U.S. politician)

William Wilkins (* December 20, 1779 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, † June 23, 1865 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an American lawyer and politician.

Wilkins was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He attended Dickinson College and practiced law in Pittsburgh.

He served in both houses of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Wilkins was elected to represent the Democrats, and as a supporter of Andrew Jackson in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

In the presidential elections in 1832 Wilkins received 30 electoral votes from Pennsylvania for vice-president (the other 189 votes went to the official party candidate Martin Van Buren ). Between 1844 and 1845 he was Secretary of War under President John Tyler.

After William Wilkins Wilkinsburg the city was named.

824478
de