William M. McCarty

William Mason McCarty (ca. 1789 – December 20, 1863) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia; Acting Governor for Governor William Pope Duval.[1]

Biography

Born at "Cedar Grove" Plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia, to Daniel McCarty, Jr. (1758–1801) and Sarah Eilbeck Mason (1760–1823); McCarty received his early education from private tutors.

He attended the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1813 and 1814, where he studied Law. McCarty was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Virginia.

McCarty served as member of the State senate in 1823. After moving to Florida, he was prominently identified with the administration of the newly acquired territory and, in 1826, was appointed by President John Quincy Adams as secretary of the Territory of Florida, following the resignation of George Walton. He also served as Governor of the Territory for a short time in 1827.

Returning to Virginia in 1830, McCarty practiced Law in Loudoun County and was, again, a member of the State Senate during 1830–1839. Mccarty was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles F. Mercer, and served from January 25, 1840 to March 4, 1841.

In 1852, McCarty returned to his home state, moving to Richmond, Virginia, where he died December 20, 1863. He was interred in Shockoe Hill Cemetery.

Sources

1. Copeland & McMaster The Five George Masons, by Pamela C. Copeland and Richard K. McMaster; University of Virginia Press; USA; 2016.

• United States Congress. "William M. McCarty (id: M000322)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.