Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/54

 JACKSON

JACKSON

vention that framed the Federal constitution, May U, 1787, on Washington's and Hamilton's recommendation, defeating William Temple Franklin, grandson of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. He was so careful not to divulge the secrets of the convention as to destroy its proceedings; no paper in his handwriting bearing on the subject has ever been found. He was Washington's private secretary during his first presidential term, 1789-91. He was again in Europe, 1792-93, and on his return he declined an appointment as adjutant-general of the army, offered him by Washington, pi-eferring his law practice, which occupied him till 1796. He was surveyor of the port of Philadelphia, 1796-1801. He estabhshed the Political and Commercial Register and pub- lished it in Philadelphia, 1801-15. He was the secretary -general of the Society of the Cincinnati, 1799-1828 and in 1799 was selected by the society to pronounce the eulogy on Washington. He was a solicitor of Revolutionary pensions, 1820-28. His last public service was to welcome Lafayette to Philadelphia in 1824, in Independence Hall. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 17, 1828.

JACKSON, William, representative, w^as born in Newton, Mass., Sept. 2, 1788; son of Maj. Timothy and Sarah (Winchester) Jackson; grandson of Lieut. Timothy and Sarah (Smith) Jackson and of Stephen Winchester; great- grandson of Joseph and Patience (Hyde) Jackson; greats-grandson of Sebas Jackson and great-- grandson of Edward Jackson, of Cambridge, 1643. He married Hannah, daughter of Ebenezer Woodward. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1829-32; a Whig representative in the 23d and 24th congresses, 1833-37, and declined a third nomination. He was an early advocate of a railway between Boston and Worcester, and predicted that sucli a road would be extended to Albany and carry passengers at the speed of nine miles per hour. His remarks before the state legislature were greeted with derision, but he continued to advocate the scheme, and spoke in the principal towns along the proposed route, and finally superintended the building of both the Boston & Worcester and Boston & Albany rail- ways. He was a founder of the Liberty party in 1846, an early advocate of the temperance move- ment of 1840, and president of the Newton bank, 1848-55. He died in Newton, Mass., Feb. 26, 1855. JACKSON, William Hicks, soldier, was born in Paris, Tenn., Oct. 1, 1835; son of Dr. Alexander and Mary W. (Hurt) Jackson, natives of Halifax county, Va., who removed to Paris, Tenn., and thence to Jackson, Tenn. Two children of this marriage readied manhood. Justice Howell Ed- mimds Jackson and Gen. William Hicks Jackson. William was graduated from the U.S. Military academy in 1856, and was assigned to the mount-

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ed rifles. He served in the cavalry school at Carlisle, Pa., 1856-57, and served subsequently on the plains. While on scouting duty lie partici- pated in the campaign with the Kiowa Indians, taking a prominent part in the battle near Fort Craig, N.M., Dec. 7, 1857. He also participated in the Navahoe campaign in 1859 and in the Kiowa and Comanche expeditions in 1859-60. He resigned from the U.S. service, May 16, 1861, on learning of the outbreak of hostilities between the North and South, and running the blockade at Galveston, returned to Tennessee, and was appointed a captain of artillery in the state secession forces by Governor Harris. He organized a light battery at Columbus, Ky., with which he reported to General Pillow, of wiaose staff he was made a mem- ber, serving in Mis- souri and Kentucky. At the battle of Belmont, Nov. 7, 1861, he led three regiments of infan- try in a reconnoiter and gained the rear of Grant's army. This movement caused the rout of the Federal forces and gained for him the rank of colonel. Dur- ing the battle he received a minie ball in the right side, and he was reported to be fatally wounded. On his recoveiy after several months in hospital, he was placed in command of the cavalrj'- operating in West Tennessee and in North ]\Iississippi, and he led the brilliant dash on Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 20, 1862, which resulted in the capture of 1800 infantry, many cavalry, valuable stores, and General Grant's private papers, and necessitated the abandonment of the land campaign against Vicksburg. For this service he was promoted brigadier-general. He was next placed in command of the second division of cavalry in Tennessee, under General Van Dorn, and he carried out the movement which resulted in the capture of Colonel Coburn's Federal brigade of 1600 infantry on March 15, 1863. General Jackson joined Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at Canton, Miss., in the fall of 1863, and commanded the cavalry in the movement for the relief of Vicksburg. At General Johnston's re- quest he was transferred to the Army of Tennes- see, and commanded the cavalry on the left wing during the Georgia campaign. He defeated Kilpatrick at Joy's Station and captured 1500 Federal cavahy at Newnan, Ga. He joined General Hood in the camimign of Tennessee, and