John Williams (Tennessee politician)

John Williams
United States Senator
from Tennessee
In office
October 10, 1815 – March 3, 1823
Preceded byJesse Wharton
Succeeded byAndrew Jackson
Personal details
Born(1778-01-29)January 29, 1778
Surry County, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 1837(1837-08-10) (aged 59)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting placeFirst Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
SpouseMelinda White[1]
RelationsLewis Williams (brother)[2]
Robert Williams (brother)[2]
James White (father-in-law)[1]
Hugh Lawson White (brother-in-law)
ChildrenJoseph, John, Mary, Cynthia, Susan[3]: 45–6 
ResidenceColonel John Williams House
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
Branch/serviceU.S. Army
Years of service1799–1800, 1813–1815[3]: 18, 28 
Rank Colonel[3]: 18, 28 
Battles/warsBattle of Horseshoe Bend[4]

John Williams (January 29, 1778 – August 10, 1837) was an American lawyer, soldier, and statesman, operating primarily out of Knoxville, Tennessee, in the first part of the 19th century. He represented Tennessee in the United States Senate from 1815 to 1823, when he lost reelection to Andrew Jackson.[3]: 36  Williams also served as colonel of the 39th U.S. Infantry Regiment during the Creek Wars, and played a key role in Jackson's victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814.[3]: 23 

Williams later distanced himself from Jackson, and aligned himself with John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay.[1] Adams appointed him chargé d'affaires to the Federal Republic of Central America in 1825.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Mary Rothrock, The French Broad-Holston Country: A History of Knox County, Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 1972), p. 506.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference maiden was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference heiskell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).