William Bowen Campbell (February 1, 1807– August 19, 1867) was Governor of Tennessee from 1851 to 1853.
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Campbell was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, later leaving to study law in Virginia. He returned to Tennessee in 1829 in order to establish a law practice at Carthage, in Smith County. Serving for a short period as state attorney general, he was later elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives, but resigned that post in order to fight in the Seminole War. Later he would served as a Tennessee state judge.[1]
After his return, he served three terms in the United States House of Representatives, 1837-1843. He was a colonel of the famed 1st Tennessee (the "Bloody 1st") in the Mexican War. Leading his men in the Battle of Monterrey, he is said to have yelled, "Boys, follow me!" which became the Whig slogan for his 1851 gubernatorial campaign. During the Civil War, he served as a Brigadier General in the Union Army from 1862 to 1863. After the Civil War, He did not seek another term as governor, but was elected again to the U.S. House of Representatives when Tennessee was readmitted to the Union. He was initially prevented from taking his seat by Radical Republicans.
He defended President Andrew Johnson against impeachment charges as a House member, and then served as an advisor to him during his trial in the Senate, dying shortly afterwards. He was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon, Tennessee.[2]
Fort Campbell, Kentucky is named in his honor.[3]
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Balie Peyton |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 6th congressional district 1837–1843 |
Succeeded by Aaron V. Brown |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Trousdale |
Governor of Tennessee 1851–1853 |
Succeeded by Andrew Johnson |
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