Governor Willie Blount

Governor Willie Blount

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Blount
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6009357/willie_blount

Governor Blount was an American politician. He served as the Governor of Tennessee from 1809 to 1815. Blount's efforts to raise funds and soldiers during the War of 1812 earned Tennessee the nickname, "Volunteer State."

Early Life

Willie (pronounced "Wiley") was born in Bertie County, North Carolina, to Jacob Blount and his second wife, Hannah Salter Blount. He studied at Princeton and Columbia. He later was admitted to the North Carolina bar.

In 1790, Willie's brother, William, was appointed governor of the newly-created Southwest Territory, and Willie accompanied him to the new territory to serve as one of his private secretaries. When Tennessee was admitted as a state in 1796, the state legislature appointed Willie Blount to the Superior Court of Law and Equity, though he either declined the appointment or resigned before issuing any opinions.

Career

In 1802, Blount moved to Montgomery County, Tennessee, which he represented in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1807 to 1809. He was elected governor in 1809, defeating William Cocke by 3,000 votes. Blount was reelected in 1811 and 1813.

During his governorship, he supported the War of 1812, and provided funds and soldiers to Tennessee militia forces led by Andrew Jackson during the Creek War. He led efforts to raise over $37,000 and 2,000 volunteer soldiers for the War of 1812, earning for Tennessee the nickname, "Volunteer State."

Blount attempted a political comeback in 1827, running for governor again, but was defeated by Sam Houston. He was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1834, which drafted a new document to replace the one in effect since the state had been admitted in 1796, and which has many similarities to the 1870 constitution which is still in effect. One of the chief differences between the 1834 constitution and its predecessor was considerably greater powers being granted to the executive branch generally and the governor in particular than in the earlier document.

Family Life

Blount was the younger half-brother of William Blount, representative of North Carolina to the Continental Congress and governor of the Southwest Territory. Blount was the great-great grandfather of Tennessee Governor Harry Hill McAlister.

Death

Blount died in Nashville on September 10, 1835, and is interred at Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville.

Legacy

Blount County, Alabama is named in his honor for his assistance during the Creek War.