William Dickson (congressman)

William Dickson (May 5, 1770 – February 21, 1816) was an American politician who represented Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives 1801 to 1807.

William Dickson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 1st district
In office March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803
Preceded by	William C. C. Claiborne
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's at-large district
In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Jesse Wharton
Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office 1799–1803
Preceded by	James Stuart
Succeeded by	James Stuart
Personal details
Born	May 5, 1770 Duplin County, Province of North Carolina, British America
Died	February 21, 1816 (aged 45) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Polly Gray Dickson Susannah Hickman Dickson
Children	Cornelia Ann Dickson Indiana Dickson Florida Dickson Baldwin David Dickson
Profession	Physician Politician

Biography

Dickson was born in Duplin County in the Province of North Carolina on May 5, 1770 and was educated at Grove Academy in Kenansville. With his parents, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1795; studied medicine, then practiced as a physician. He married Polly Gray on August 19, 1802, in Nashville. They had three daughters and one son, Cornelia Ann Dickson, Indiana Dickson, Florida Dickson Baldwin and David Dickson. His second wife was Susannah Hickman. They had no children.[1]

Career

Dickson entered politics as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, serving as its speaker from 1799 to 1803.[2]

Elected as a republican, Dickson served as a U.S. representative for Tennessee for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Congresses from March 4, 1801, to March 3, 1807.[3] He became a friend of President Andrew Jackson during that time. He was a trustee of the University of Nashville from 1806 to 1816.

Death

Dickson died in Nashville on February 21, 1816 (age 45 years, 292 days). He is interred at a rural cemetery in Davidson County, Tennessee, near Nashville. Dickson County in Tennessee is named after him. A cousin of Molton Dickson, he was a member of the Freemasons.[4]

References

1. "William Dickson". Ancestry.com. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
2. "William Dickson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
3. "William Dickson". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
4. "William Dickson". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved February 7, 2013.

External links

• The Dickson Herald (cached by Google) at the Wayback Machine (archived July 19, 2004)
• The Tennessean
• U.S. Congress Biographical Directory entry