William Wilkins (U.S. politician)

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

19th United States Secretary of War
William Wilkins

In office February 15, 1844 – March 4, 1845
President	John Tyler
Preceded by	James Madison Porter
Succeeded by	William L. Marcy

Born	December 20, 1779(1779-12-20) Carlisle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	June 23, 1865 (aged 85) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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 for the Western District of Pennsylvania. 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 Pittsburgh Academy [1] and 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 James S. Stevenson Robert Orr, Jr.	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district 1829 (resigned before qualifying)	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 Served Under: John Tyler 1844 – 1845	Succeeded by William L. Marcy
Preceded by Littleton Tazewell	Oldest living U.S. Senator May 6, 1860-June 23, 1865	Succeeded by Henry Dodge

v • d • e United States Senators from Pennsylvania

Class 1: W. Maclay • Gallatin • Ross • S. Maclay • Leib • Roberts • Findlay • Barnard • Dallas • McKean • Sturgeon • Brodhead • S. Cameron • Wilmot • Buckalew • J. Scott • Wallace • Mitchell • Quay • Knox • Oliver • Knox • Crow • Reed • Guffey • Martin • H. Scott • Heinz • Wofford • Santorum • Casey Class 3: Morris • Bingham • Muhlenberg • Logan • Gregg • Lacock • Lowrie • Marks • Wilkins • Buchanan • S. Cameron • Cooper • Bigler • Cowan • S. Cameron • J. Cameron • Penrose • Pepper • Vare • Grundy • Davis • Myers • Duff • Clark • Schweiker • Specter

v • d • e United States Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army

Cabinet-level	Knox • Pickering • McHenry • Dexter • Dearborn • Eustis • Armstrong • Monroe • W. H. Crawford • Calhoun • Barbour • P. B. Porter • Eaton • Cass • Poinsett • Bell • Spencer • J. M. Porter • Wilkins • Marcy • G. W. Crawford • Conrad • J. Davis • Floyd • Holt • S. Cameron • Stanton • Schofield • Rawlins • Belknap • A. Taft • J. Cameron • McCrary • Ramsey • Lincoln • Endicott • Proctor • Elkins • Lamont • Alger • Root • W. H. Taft • Wright • Dickinson • Stimson • Garrison • Baker • Weeks • D. F. Davis • Good • Hurley • Dern • Woodring • Stimson • Patterson • Royall

Dept. of Defense	Royall • Gray • Pace • Stevens • Brucker • Stahr • Vance • Ailes • Resor • Froehlke • Callaway • Hoffmann • Alexander • Marsh • Stone • West • Walker • Caldera • Dahlberg • Westphal • White • Brownlee • Harvey • Geren