John Williams was an American lawyer, soldier, and statesman, operating primarily out of Knoxville, Tennessee, in the first part of the 19th century.
Background
John Williams was born on January 29, 1778 in Surry County, North Carolina, the third son of Joseph and Rebecca (Lanier) Williams. His father, a native of Hanover County, Virginia, was an active figure in local affairs, and served with the Surry County militia in the Revolution.
Education
John received his preparatory education in Surry.
Career
He moved to Knoxville, Tennesee and in 1803 he was admitted to the bar.
In 1799-1800, when war with France seemed imminent, he was a captain in the 6th United States Infantry; when the War of 1812 began he raised a force of some two hundred mounted volunteers and as colonel led them to Florida, where they operated against the Seminoles.
After successfully devastating Indian territory, they returned to Tennessee in the early part of 1813. Shortly afterward, Williams became colonel of the 39th United States Infantry. He recruited this regiment to a strength of about six hundred, and commanded it under General Jackson in the Creek campaign. In 1815, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate and in December 1817 took his seat as a regularly elected senator from Tennessee. He acted as the chairman of the committee on military affairs and was a stanch supporter of the administration, voting for the Tariff Bill and for the United States Bank Bill in 1816.
In the controversies over the Missouri Compromise and other questions concerning slavery, he usually identified himself with Southern interests. He also supported projects for internal improvements, particularly turnpike development. When his term as senator expired in 1823, he desired reëlection, but during his political life in Washington he had become too closely associated with the Crawford faction of the Democratic party, and Andrew Jackson's managers decided to retire him. This decision precipitated one of the bitterest political fights ever to take place within Tennessee. It became apparent that the Jackson forces could not displace Williams unless their leader himself became a candidate, and it was this factor which brought Jackson into the fight. By a close vote, in which sectional and personal enmities found expression, Jackson was elected; Williams never became reconciled to his defeat.
In 1825, President Adams appointed him chargé d'affaires to the Federation of Central America, but after several months in Guatemala he returned, and in 1827 was elected to the state Senate.
Williams died in 1837 and was buried in Knoxville.
Achievements
Connections
Williams married Melinda White, daughter of Gen. James White of Knoxville and sister of Hugh L. White. They had three children.