William Waightstill Avery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Speaker of the North Carolina Senate | |
| In office 1856 | |
| Representative for North Carolina in the Provisional Confederate Congress | |
| In office 1861 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 25, 1816 Swan Ponds, North Carolina, US |
| Died | July 3, 1864 (aged 48) Morganton, North Carolina, US |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Occupation | lawyer, politician, soldier |
| Known for | Advocate for the University of North Carolina |
William Waightstill Avery (May 25, 1816 – July 3, 1864) was a North Carolina politician and lawyer. He served in the North Carolina House of Commons and State Senate prior to the U.S. Civil War. He represented North Carolina in the Provisional Confederate Congress. He was an outspoken advocate of higher education, graduate of the University of North Carolina and member of the Board of Trustees of the university.[1] Avery owned a number of slaves, including 22 whom he inherited from his father.