William P. Richardson (Ohio politician)

For the New York Senate member born 1848, see William P. Richardson (New York politician).

William Pitt Richardson
9th Ohio Attorney General
In office
January 9, 1865 – February 20, 1865[1]
GovernorJohn Brough
Preceded byLyman R. Critchfield
Succeeded byChauncey N. Olds
Personal details
Born(1824-05-25)May 25, 1824
Washington County, Pennsylvania, US
DiedAugust 4, 1886(1886-08-04) (aged 62)
New Castle, Indiana, US
Resting placeOak Grove Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio
Political partyRepublican
Alma materWashington College
Occupationlawyer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnion Army
Years of service1846–1848
1861–1865
Rank Colonel
Bvt. Brigadier General
Unit3rd Ohio Infantry
Commands25th Ohio Infantry
Camp Chase
Battles/wars

William Pitt Richardson[2] (May 25, 1824 – August 4, 1886)[3] was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio, USA. He was Ohio Attorney General in 1865.

Richardson was born on May 25, 1824, at Washington County, Pennsylvania. He entered Washington College in 1841, and graduated in 1844. He was then a teacher, and remained so after moving to Ohio. He enlisted as a private in the Third Ohio Infantry in 1846, and served in the Mexican–American War.[2] In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County, Ohio, and held that office until 1861. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a Major in the 25th Ohio Infantry, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel.[2] On May 2, 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was wounded and lost use of his right arm.[4]

In 1864, he was elected Ohio Attorney General, but resigned after less than a year, replaced by Chauncey N. Olds of Franklin County being appointed by Governor Brough. He was Brevetted Brigadier General in December 1864.[2] The same year, he was named commander of the military prison at Camp Chase in Columbus, and was later Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifteenth (Ohio) district.[4] He died at New Castle, Indiana on August 4, 1886, and was interred at Oak Grove Cemetery in Marietta, Ohio.[3]

His granddaughter, Rhea, was the mother of the famous American film director John Huston and grandmother of the actors Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston.

  1. ^ Wikoff, Allen T. (1875). Annual report of the secretary of state to the Governor of the state of Ohio for the year 1874. Columbus: Nevins & Myers, State Printers. p. 13.
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference reid was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Colonel William P. Richardson. reocities.com
  4. ^ a b Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. p. 198.