William Dunlap Simpson

For other uses, see William Dunlap (disambiguation).

William Dunlap Simpson
File:William Dunlap Simpson.jpg
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
Died	Columbia, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jane Elizabeth Young
Children	7
Alma mater	South Carolina College Harvard Law School
Profession	Lawyer, politician
Religion	Presbyterian
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Rank	lieutenant colonel
Battles/wars	American Civil War

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, when Simpson resigned to become Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

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, and spent one term at Harvard Law School. He practiced law in Laurens with his partner (and father-in-law) Henry Clinton Young. He served in the South Carolina legislature in the 1850s and early 1860s and serving in the Confederate States House of Representatives from 1863 to 1865.

After the Civil War, he returned to practice law in Laurens until 1876, when he ran successfully for the post of lieutenant governor and was re-elected in 1878. Upon Wade Hampton resigning from the governorship to assume his senate seat, Simpson was elevated to become the 78th governor of South Carolina. He resigned prior to the ending of the term for governor after being appointed Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court and served for ten years from 1880 until his death in 1890. He is buried at the Laurens City Cemetery.

The William Dunlap Simpson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

External links

• SCIway Biography of William Dunlap Simpson
• NGA Biography of William Dunlap Simpson
• Simpson's papers at the University of North Carolina
• Pictures of William Dunlap Simpson home Laurens, S.C.

Political offices
Preceded by Richard Howell Gleaves	Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina 1876–1879	Succeeded by John D. Kennedy
Preceded by Wade Hampton III	Governor of South Carolina 1879–1880	Succeeded by Thomas Bothwell Jeter