William Freeman Vilas

July 9, 1840 (age 68)

Chelsea, Vermont, United States

He was a prominent Bourbon Democrat. Vilas moved to Madison, Wisconsin with his family in 1851. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a captain in the 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later served as the lieutenant colonel of that regiment. Following the war, Vilas was a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a regent of the University from 1880 to 1885 and 1898 to 1905. After leaving the cabinet, he led Wisconsin German Americans in the protest against the Bennett Law of 1889 which required schools to only use the English language. He was unsuccessful in an 1896 reelection bid, having been defeated by Senator John Coit Spooner. Vilas was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1896, but withdrew after the adoption of the free-silver plank. He then became one of the chief organizers of the National Democratic Party, attended the convention at Indianapolis, and was chairman of its committee on resolutions. He was also the main drafter of the National Democratic Party"s platform. Vilas, a favorite of the delegates, refused to run as the party"s sacrificial lamb. He is interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin. Vilas County, Wisconsin is named for William F. Vilas. Senator Vilas is also the namesake of the town of Vilas, South Dakota.

William Freeman Vilas

Edit Profile

lawyer politician senator

Background

Vilas, William Freeman was born on July 9, 1840 in Chelsea, Vermont, United States. Son of Honorary Levi B. and Esther G. (Smilie) Vilas.

Education

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1858, and from the Albany Law School in 1860.

Career

He was a prominent Bourbon Democrat. Vilas moved to Madison, Wisconsin with his family in 1851. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a captain in the 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later served as the lieutenant colonel of that regiment.

Following the war, Vilas was a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a regent of the University from 1880 to 1885 and 1898 to 1905.

After leaving the cabinet, he led Wisconsin German Americans in the protest against the Bennett Law of 1889 which required schools to only use the English language. He was unsuccessful in an 1896 reelection bid, having been defeated by Senator John Coit Spooner.

Vilas was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1896, but withdrew after the adoption of the free-silver plank. He then became one of the chief organizers of the National Democratic Party, attended the convention at Indianapolis, and was chairman of its committee on resolutions.

He was also the main drafter of the National Democratic Party"s platform.

Vilas, a favorite of the delegates, refused to run as the party"s sacrificial lamb. He is interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin. Vilas County, Wisconsin is named for William F. Vilas.

Senator Vilas is also the namesake of the town of Vilas, South Dakota.

Achievements

William Freeman Vilas has been listed as a reputable United States senator, lawyer by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Vilas served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1885, until he was appointed the Postmaster General between 1885 and 1888, and as Secretary of the Interior from 1888 to 1889, both under President Grover Cleveland. From 1891 until 1897 he was a member of the United States Senate, in which, during President Cleveland"s second term, he was recognized as the chief defender of the Administration, and he was especially active in securing the repeal of the silver purchase clause of the Sherman Silver Purchase Acting.

Connections

Father:: Honorary Levi B. Vilas
Mother:: Esther G. (Smilie) Vilas

Main Photo