Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/434

 PRESTON

PRESTON

fever in 1845, He received the degree D.D. from the University of Georgia in Ib'M, and is the author of two voluiiies of sermons, issued by his son, with a biographical sketch (1857). He died in Savannah, da., Ajiril 27, 1S56.

PRESTON, William, soldier, was born near Louisville. Ky.,Uct. 16, 1816; souof Maj. William and Caroline (Hancock) Preston; grandson of Col. William (1729-ti3) and Susannah (Smith) Preston, and of Col. George Hancock of Fother- ingay, Va., a representative in the 4th congress, and a descendant of John Preston, the immigrant. He was educated at St. Joseph's college, Bards- town, Ky., and at Yale college, and was gradu- ated at Harvard, LL.B., in 1838. He was married ill 1840 to Margaret Howard, daughter of Robert Wickliffe of Lexington, Ky.; settled in practice in Louisville; and was lieutenant-colonel of the 4th Kentucky volunteers in the Mexican war, 1S4(3_4,>^, He was a member of the convention called to frame a new constitution for the state of Kentucky in 1849; a Whig representative in the state legislature, 1851-53, and a presidential elec- tor for the state at large, on the Scott and Graham ticket, in 1852. He was a representative from Kentucky in the 32d congress, being elected Dec. 6. 18.52. to complete the unexpired term of Hum- phrey Marshall, resigned; was re-elected to the 33d congress, serving 1853-55, and was defeated as a candidate for the 34th congress by Humphrey Marshall. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2, 1N56, and was appointed by President Buchanan U.S. minister to Spain in 1858, being succeeded by Carl Schurz. He joined the Confederate army at Bowling Green, Ky., in 18G1, as colonel on the staff of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who died in his arms at the battle of Shiloh. He was promo- ted brigadier-general April 18, 1862; participated in the battle of Murfreesboro; was promoted major-general Jan. 1, 1863; assigned to the com- mand of the division of Maj. -Gen. Polignac, and after the latter's return to France, in October, 1863, was transferred to the command of a divis- ion in Longstreefs corps. Army of the Tennessee. He resumed practice in Lexington, Ky., in 1865, was a delegate to the Democratic national con- ventions of 1868 and 1880, and a representative in tiie state legislature in 1869. He died in Lexing- ton. Ky.. Sei)t. 27. 1887.

PRESTON, William Ballard, cabinet officer, was born in SmitiifieM, Va., Nov. 25, 1805; son of Gov. James Patton (q.v.) and Ann (Taylor) Pres- ton. He was a student at the University of Vir- ginia, was admitted to the bar, and practi-sed suc- cessfully in his native state, meantime serving as a representative in the Virginia legislature, and as a state senator. He married a Miss Redil of Virginia. He was a Whig representative from

Virginia in the 30th congress, 1847-49; and secretary of the navy in President Taylor's cab- inet, from March 8, 1849 to July 22, 1850. He visited France in 1858-59, as an agent from Vir- ginia, to effect the establishment of a direct line of steamers between Norfolk and Havre, but the plan was defeated by the civil war. He was a delegate from Virginia to the Provisional Confed- erate congress that met at Richmond, July, 20, 1861, where he still sought to prevent war. He was elected a senator from Virginia in the first Confederate congress, which met Feb. 22, 1862, being succeeded on his death by Allen T. Caper- ton. He died at Smithfield, Va., Nov. 16, 1862.

PRESTON, William Campbell, senator, was born in Philadelpliia, Pa., Dec. 27, 1794; son of Francis (q.v.) and Sarah (Campbell) Preston. His maternal grandmother was the sister of Patrick Henry. He matriculated at Washington college, Va., but was obliged to leave on account of ill health; was graduated at South Carolina col- lege, A.B., 1812, and studied law in the office of William Wirt of Richmond, Va. In 1816 he went abroad for the benefit of his health. He formed the acquaintance of Washington Irving, with whom he trav- eled through Swit- zerland, Scotland,

northern England and Wales, and attended the lectures at Edinburgh university. He was admitted to tiie bar in 1820, practised in Vir- ginia, 1820-22, and in 1822 settled in practice in Columbia, S.C, in partnership with D. J. McCord. He was married first, in 1820, to Maria Coalter, and secondly, in 1831, to Penelope, daughter of Dr. James Davis of Columbia, S.C. He was a representative in the South Carolina legislature, 1829-32, where he was a leader of the Nullification party; was elected to the U.S senate from South Carolina as a Calhoun Demo, crat, serving, 1833-39. and was re-elected for a second term to expire March 3, 1845, but resigned in January, 1843, George McDuffin completing his term, and again took up his profe.ssion in Columbia. He was trustee of South Carolina college, 1823-46 and 1851-57; president of the college and profes.sor of belles lettres, 1845-51, and during his administration greatly improved the financial condition of the college and raised its standard. He received the degree LL.D. from Harvard in 1846 and established the Columbia

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