Background
Wilkins, William was born on December 10, 1779 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of John and Catherine (Rowan) Wilkins.
Diplomat secretary of war senator
Wilkins, William was born on December 10, 1779 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of John and Catherine (Rowan) Wilkins.
Graduate Dickinson College, Carlisle, 1802.
Admitted to Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) bar, 1801. President Bank of Pittsburgh, 1814-1819. President Monongahela Bridge Company.
President Greensburg and Pittsburgh Turnpike Company.
President Pittsburgh Common Council, 1816-1819. Member Pennsylvania Legislature (Federalist), 1819.
Presiding judge 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 1821-1824. Judge The United States of America District Court for Western Pennsylvania, 1824-1831.
Member United States Senate (Democrat) from Pennsylvania, 1831-1834, resigned to become United States minister to Russia, 1834-1835.
Member United States House of Representatives (Democratic) from Pennsylvania, 28th Congress, 1843-February 14, 1844. Secretary of war under Tyler, 1844-1845. Member Pennsylvania Senate, 1855-1857.
Major general Pennsylvania Home Guard, 1862.
Wilkins Avenue (Pittsburgh), Wilkins Township and borough of Wilkinsburg in Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) named for him.
Member Pennsylvania Legislature (Federalist), 1819. Member United States Senate (Democrat) from Pennsylvania, 1831-1834, resigned to become United States minister to Russia, 1834-1835. Member United States House of Representatives (Democratic) from Pennsylvania, 28th Congress, 1843-February 14, 1844.
Member Pennsylvania Senate, 1855-1857.
Married Catherine Holmes, 1815. Married second, Mathilda Dallas, October 1, 1818.