William Charles Cole Claiborne1775-1817 |
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| 1775 | Born Sussex County, Virginia to Colonel William Claiborne and Mary Leigh Claiborne. The first Claiborne to reach American shores was also a William Claiborne, the younger son of a distinguished Westmoreland County , England Family. He arrived as a surveyor for the London Company in October, 1621. In 1625 he was commissioned a member of the cCouncil and the Secretary of State of the Colony of Virginia by Charles I. William C. C> Claibornes brother Nathaniel H. was a member of Congress from Virginia for 20 years. He wrote about his brother in Notes on the War of 1812. Young William attends Richmond Academy and briefly William and Mary College accompanied by his older brother Ferdinand Leigh. He left the college after a disagreement with an usher |
| 1790 | At fifteen years old William ended his formal schooling when his father lost the family estate in the cause for his country. He is employed by John Beckley, the Clerk of the U. S. House of Representatives. He follows the Federal government to Philadelphia and caught the attention of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and John Sevier. He read Jefferson's books and followed Sevier's advice to move to Tennessee. |
| 1792 May |
Moves to Richmond to study law. |
| 1794 May |
Moves to Sullivan County, Tennessee to open a law practice. |
| 1796 January 11 |
Member of Tennessee constitutional convention in Knoxville where he is lauded by territorial governor Blount and named by the new state governor Sevier to the supreme court. |
| 1797 August |
Resigns from the Tennessee Supreme Court to run for the U. S. House of Representatives. In the first session he is on the ways and means committee with Gallatin and Chairman of the Committee on Indian Relations. |
| 1799 August |
Re-elected to the sixth congress andvotes for Jefferson in the Jefferson-Burr contest. |
| 1801 April 20 |
Marries Elizabeth W. Lewis of Nashville, Tennessee. One daughter. |
| 1801 May 25 |
While Congress is in recess Claiborne is rewarded with the position of governor of the Territory of Mississippi to replace Winthrop Sargent. As Tennessee’s lone representative and a Democratic Republican Claiborne had cast his vote for Jefferson in the disputed presidential election. He is confirmed as governor January 26, 1802 at the age of 26. |
| 1802 February 1 |
Moves the territorial capital from Natchez to Washington. |
| 1802 Spring |
As Governor of Mississippi Territory Claiborne writes to Jefferson, notifying him that the port of New Orleans has been closed to American shipping. Acting on suggestions from Claiborne Jefferson asks Congress for defense funds and sends James Monroe to Paris to obtain additional rights on the Mississippi, since it appears that the French are influencing Spanish colonial decisions. Meanwhile he directs the construction of Fort Dearborn at Washington. One of his most important acts as territorial governor of Mississippi was the settlement of chaotic land titles, which method was used by the Federal government in future settlements. He also establishes the Natchez Trace as a mail route |
| 1803 November |
Sent by Jefferson as a Territorial Commissioner of Louisiana with General James Wilkinson. He brings 200 Mississippi territorial militia with him to New Orleans. |
| 1803 December 17 |
Wilkinson and Claiborne arrive and encamp two miles from New Orleans. |
| 1803-1809 | After the transfer of Louisiana to the United States Claiborne becomes Territorial Governor of Louisiana. |
| 1804 September 26 |
Loses first wife and an infant daughter to Yellow Fever. |
| 1804 October 2 |
Claiborne's title changes from provisional governor to territorial governor. |
| 1805 Oct. 15 |
Casa
Calvo, in company with Juan Ventura Morales
the Intendant, leaves New Orleans for the old post of Adaise
(or Adazes), near Natchitoches. Gov. Claiborne, fearing it is the intention of the two Spanish officers to stir up dissension among the people in the western part of the territory, sent Captain Turner along with them to keep an eye on their movements and report. |
| 1805 | Claiborne lives at the corner of Levee (Decatur) and Toulouse in what is called the Government House. |
| 1806 September 27 |
Marries Clarissa Duralde of Attakapas, Louisiana. One son William C. C. Claiborne III. |
| 1806-1807 |
Spanish troops are approaching Natchitoches in the west and a build up in West Florida is feared in the wake of the Burr Conspiracy. |
| 1807 June 8 |
The feud between Claiborne and Daniel Clark comes to a climax as Clark severely wounds the governor in a duel somewhere in West Florida. The wound to the thigh takes months to heal. |
| 1809 |
The dispute over West Florida reaches a crisis for the Spanish officials moving governor Folch to seek help from Claiborne. |
| 1810 June |
Claiborne is in Washington and is told that the province of West Florida is to be acquired only by a request from its inhabitants. Thy have declared their independence and want to be a separate state, but when they make the request in December |
| 1810 December |
Claiborne is given instructions to head a complement of militia into West Florida. The land betweenBaton Rouge and the Pearl River is to be incorporated into the Territory of Orleans. |
| 1811 | Wins esteem from native Creoles with his quick suppression of the 1811 slave insurrection near Laplace. |
| 1812 November 8 |
His third marriage is to Suzette Bosque. One son Charles Cole, one daughter Sophronia. |
| 1812-1816 | Elected the first Governor of the State of Louisiana over Jacques villere by a popular vote of 3,707 to 1,947. His campaign is helped by his compassionate reception of refugees from St. Domingue in 1809 and his Creole wife. |
| 1817 January 13 |
U. S. Senator from Louisiana |
| 1817 November 3 |
Claiborne dies at the age of 42 and is buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in spite of being a Protestant. His remains are later moved to Metairie Cemetery. |
| 1817 December 30 |
A site is designated for a monument to Claiborne near the Christ Church then located on the 700 block of Canal Street. The sulptor will be Sieur St. Gies. |