William A. Pile

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William Anderson Pile
William A. Pile

In office
1869 – 1871
Preceded by Robert B. Mitchell
Succeeded by Marsh Giddings

Born February 11, 1829
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Died July 7, 1889
Monrovia, California, USA
Political party Republican
Profession Politician, Minister
Religion Methodist

William Anderson Pile (February 11, 1829July 7, 1889) was a nineteenth century politician and minister from Missouri, as well as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Born near Indianapolis, Indiana, Pile completed preparatory studies, studied theology, became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a member of the Missouri conference.

General William A. Pile
General William A. Pile

At the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the Union Army as chaplain of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery Regiment in 1861. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 33rd Missouri Infantry Regiment in 1862, colonel of the same regiment later the same year, brigadier general of volunteers in 1863 and brevet major general in 1865.

Pile was elected a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1866, serving from 1867 to 1869, being unsuccessful for reelection in 1868. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department from 1867 to 1869. Afterwards, he was appointed Ambassador to Venezuela and Brazil by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869, but his nomination was withdrawn and was instead appointed Territorial Governor of New Mexico which he served as from 1869 to 1871. Pile was again appointed Ambassador to Venezuela by President Grant in 1871, which he served as until 1874.

He died in Monrovia, California on July 7, 1889 and was interned in Live Oak Cemetery in Monrovia.

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Political offices
Preceded by
John Hogan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 1st congressional district

March 4, 1867March 3, 1869
Succeeded by
Erastus Wells
Preceded by
Robert B. Mitchell
Territorial Governor of New Mexico
1869 – 1871
Succeeded by
Marsh Giddings
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
James R. Partridge
United States Minister to Venezuela
May 23, 1871January 9, 1874
Succeeded by
Thomas Russell