William Dunlap Simpson

For other uses, see William Dunlap (disambiguation).

William Dunlap Simpson (October 27, 1823 – December 26, 1890) was the 78th governor of South Carolina from February 26, 1879, when the previous governor, Wade Hampton, resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Senate, until 1880. That year Simpson resigned to become Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

William Dunlap Simpson
Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court
In office September 6, 1880 – December 26, 1890
Preceded by	Ammiel J. Willard
Succeeded by	Henry McIver
78th Governor of South Carolina
In office February 26, 1879 – September 1, 1880
Lieutenant	None
Preceded by	Wade Hampton III
Succeeded by	Thomas Bothwell Jeter
56th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
In office December 14, 1876 – February 26, 1879
Governor	Wade Hampton III
Preceded by	Richard Howell Gleaves
Succeeded by	John D. Kennedy
Member of the Confederate States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district
In office February 5, 1863 – March 18, 1865
Preceded by	Milledge Luke Bonham
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Member of the South Carolina Senate from Laurens District
In office November 26, 1860 – February 5, 1863
Preceded by	James Henderson Irby
Succeeded by	Barney Smith Jones
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Laurens District
In office November 22, 1858 – November 26, 1860
In office November 27, 1854 – November 24, 1856
Personal details
Born	(1823-10-27)October 27, 1823 Laurens District, South Carolina, US
Died	December 26, 1890(1890-12-26) (aged 67) Columbia, South Carolina, US
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jane Elizabeth Young
Children	7
Alma mater	South Carolina College Harvard Law School
Profession	Lawyer, politician
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Rank	lieutenant colonel
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Early life

Born in Laurens District, South Carolina, in 1823, he was educated at South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina), completing his studies in 1843. He spent one term at Harvard Law School. He practiced law in Laurens with his partner (and father-in-law) Henry Clinton Young. As of 1860, Simpson enslaved 31 people at his properties in Laurens.^[1]

Political career

He served in the South Carolina legislature in the 1850s and early 1860s, and in the Confederate States House of Representatives from 1863 to 1865.^[2][3][4]

After the Civil War, Simpson returned to practice law in Laurens until 1876, when he ran successfully for the post of lieutenant governor.^[5] That year Democrats regained control of the state legislature and the governorship. He was re-elected in 1878. Upon Wade Hampton resigning from the governorship to assume his US Senate seat (to which he was elected by the state legislature), Simpson was elevated to become the 78th governor of South Carolina.^[3][2]

Service as Chief Justice

In 1880 he resigned after being appointed Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court. He served for ten years from 1880 until his death in 1890. He is buried at the Laurens City Cemetery.

Legacy and honors

• The William Dunlap Simpson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.^[6]