Williams Carter Wickham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 32nd district | |
| In office December 5, 1883 – July 23, 1888 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph A. Wingfield |
| Succeeded by | Henry T. Wickham |
| Member of the Confederate States House of Representatives from Virginia's 3rd district | |
| In office October 5, 1864 – May 10, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | James Lyons |
| Succeeded by | None (position eliminated) |
| Member of the Virginia Senate for Hanover and Henrico | |
| In office December 5, 1859 – December 2, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Chastain White |
| Succeeded by | John R. Garnett |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Hanover County | |
| In office December 3, 1849 – December 2, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Richard F. Darracott |
| Succeeded by | Chastain White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 21, 1820 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | July 23, 1888 (aged 67) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lucy Penn Taylor |
| Relations | John Wickham (grandfather) Thomas Nelson Jr. (great-grandfather) |
| Children | Henry T. Wickham |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit |  4th Virginia Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War First Battle of Manassas Battle of Williamsburg Battle of Sharpsburg Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Brandy Station Gettysburg Campaign Battle of Yellow Tavern Valley Campaigns of 1864 |
Williams Carter Wickham (September 21, 1820 – July 23, 1888) was a Virginia lawyer and politician. A plantation owner who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, Wickham also became a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, where he voted against secession, but after fellow delegates and voters approved secession, he joined the Confederate States Army and rose to the rank of cavalry general, then became a Confederate States Congressman near the end of the American Civil War. Later, Wickham became a Republican and helped rebuild Virginia's infrastructure after gaining control of the heavily damaged Virginia Central Railroad, which he repaired and helped merge into the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway company. Cooperating with financier Collis Huntington, Wickham developed coal resources and the Newport News Shipyard. He was also again elected to the Virginia Senate. His son Henry T. Wickham also became a lawyer and would work with his father and eventually twice become the speaker pro tempore of the Virginia Senate.