William Wilkins (U.S. politician)

For other persons named William Wilkins, see William Wilkins (disambiguation).

William Wilkins

19th United States Secretary of War
In office February 15, 1844 – March 4, 1845
Preceded by	James Madison Porter
Succeeded by	William L. Marcy

Born	December 20, 1779 Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
Died	June 23, 1865 (aged 85) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Lawyer, Judge, Politician

William Wilkins (December 20, 1779–June 23, 1865) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He served in both houses of the state legislature, and was federal judge in the United States District Court. He was elected to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate as a Democrat and a Jacksonian. In the election of 1832, Wilkins received 30 electoral votes from Pennsylvania for the Vice Presidency (the other 189 votes went to the official party nominee, Martin Van Buren). He served as U.S. Secretary of War from 1844 to 1845 under President John Tyler.

Wilkins was born in Carlisle, PA, attended Dickinson College, and practiced law in Pittsburgh. Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania is named after him. Wilkins died in 1865 in Homewood, near Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pa, and is buried in the Homewood Cemetery there. His brother, Ross Wilkins, was a notable jurist in Michigan.

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Preceded by John Gilmore	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district 1829	Succeeded by Harmar Denny
Preceded by William Marks	United States Senator from Pennsylvania 1831 – 1834 Served alongside: Isaac D. Barnard, George M. Dallas, Samuel McKean	Succeeded by James Buchanan
Preceded by Thomas M. T. McKennan	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district 1843 – 1844	Succeeded by Cornelius Darragh
Preceded by James Madison Porter	United States Secretary of War 1844 – 1845	Succeeded by William L. Marcy