Person:William Claiborne (7)

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NOTE: For information about the Governor's early life, most subsequent writers have depended on Nathaniel H. Claiborne's Notes on the War in the South (Richmond, 1819). However, Nathaniel was William's brother and was understandably biased.

Commission from Pres. Jefferson as Governor of Louisiana Territory, 1803

Proclamation by Gov. Claiborne warning U.S. citizens in Louisiana not to meddle militarily (i.e., filibustering) in Spanish affairs in Texas.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Find A Grave.

   Originally interred in St. Louis Cemetery #1 in New Orleans, but that was a Catholic cemetery and he was Protestant, so he was subsequently moved to the new Metairie Cemetery. Find a Grave
   
   
   See also: Claiborne Family Tomb (Metairie Cemetery, Orleans Parish, Louisiana)

2. ↑ Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 311.

   Elected to the U.S. Senate by the Louisiana State Senate, 13 Jan 1817, but died before taking his seat.

3. ↑ Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 3.
4.   Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 6.

   In 1790, he left Richmond and moved to New York City, then the national capital, where he sought and gained employment with John Beckley of Virginia, who was then Clerk of the House of Representatives. As enrolling clerk copying bills and resolutions, he gained great experience in the technical aspects of legislation but was increasingly asked to draft new bills for the members of Congress.

5.   Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 9-10.

   He moved from Philadelphia to Sullivan County, Tennessee, where he was licensed to practice law on 22 May 1794. He was very successful in his practice and acquired considerable money.

6.   Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 18.

   Appointed a member of the first Supreme Court of Tennessee in 1796 but remained on the bench only a year; he couldn't handle the financial sacrifice of giving up his law practice.

7.   Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 12-16.

   Delegate from Sullivan County to the Tennessee statehood convention, 11 Jan 1796, in which he played an active role despite his youth.

8.   Boddie, John Bennett. Virginia Historical Genealogies. (Redwood City, California: Pacific Coast Publishers, 1954)
   p. 42.

   In Nov 1797, he began the first of two terms as a Tennessee Representative to the U.S. Congress (Democratic-Republican) -- technically under the age required by the Constitution and the youngest Representative in congressional history. He cast the deciding vote in 1800 that determined the tied presidential election of Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr.

9.   Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
   p. 207.

   In 1801, Pres. Jefferson, appointed him Governor of Mississippi Territory.

10.   Hatfield, Joseph T. William Claiborne: Jeffersonian Centurion in the American Southwest. (Lafayette, Louisiana: University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1976)
    p. 327.
11. ↑ Susquehanna [Pa.] Centinel
    p. 1, 21 Mar 1818.

    Originally published in the Orleans Gazette, of which I have not been able to find a copy, but it was widely republished by newspapers around the country.
    Image:Claiborne, William C C - long obit 1817.pdf

12.   Tennessee Gazette (Nashville)
    p. 1, 28 May 1800.

    As Claiborne was about to leave Congress, to be appointed Governor of Mississippi Territory, he wrote what has become a moderately famous political circular letter to his Tennessee constituents. See: Image:Claiborne, William C C - circular letter.pdf

13.   William C. C. Claiborne, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.

    the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

    William Charles Cole Claiborne ( 1773-1775 – November 23, 1817) was an American politician, best known as the first non-colonial governor of Louisiana. He also has the distinction of possibly being the youngest member of the United States Congress in U.S. history, although reliable sources differ about his age.

    Claiborne supervised the transfer of Louisiana to U.S. control after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, governing the "Territory of Orleans" from 1804 to 1812, the year in which Louisiana became a state. He won the first election for Louisiana's state Governor and served through 1816, for a total of thirteen years as Louisiana's executive administrator. New Orleans served as the capital city during both the colonial period and the early statehood period.