William P. Richardson

William Pitt Richardson
9th Ohio Attorney General
In office January 9, 1865 – February 20, 1865[1]
Preceded by	Lyman R. Critchfield
Succeeded by	Chauncey N. Olds
Personal details
Born	May 25, 1824 Washington County, Pennsylvania
Died	August 4, 1886 (aged 62) New Castle, Indiana
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Washington College
Occupation	lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Union Army
Years of service	1846-1848 1861-1865
Rank	Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General
Unit	3rd Ohio Infantry
Commands	25th Ohio Infantry Camp Chase
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War American Civil War Battle of Chancellorsville

William Pitt Richardson^[2] (May 25, 1824 - August 4, 1886)^[3] was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio, USA. He was Ohio Attorney General in 1865.

Richardson was born on May 25, 1824, at Washington County, Pennsylvania. He entered Washington College in 1841, and graduated in 1844. He was then a teacher, and remained so after moving to Ohio. He enlisted as a private in the Third Ohio Infantry in 1846, and served in the Mexican-American War.^[2] In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County, Ohio, and held that office until 1861. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a Major in the 25th Ohio Infantry, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel.^[2] On May 2, 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was wounded and lost use of his right arm.^[4]

In 1864, he was elected Ohio Attorney General, but resigned after less than a year, replaced by Chauncey N. Olds of Franklin County being appointed by Governor Brough. He was Brevetted Brigadier General in December, 1864.^[2] The same year, he was named commander of the military prison at Camp Chase in Columbus, and was later Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifteenth (Ohio) district.^[4] He died at New Castle, Indiana August 4, 1886, and was interred at Oak Grove Cemetery in Marietta, Ohio.^[3][5]

His granddaughter, Rhea, was the mother of the famous American film director John Huston and grandmother of the actors Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston.

References

1. Wikoff, Allen T. (1875). Annual report of the secretary of state to the Governor of the state of Ohio for the year 1874. Columbus: Nevins & Myers, State Printers. p. 13.
2. Reid : 945-946
3. reocities.com
4. Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. p. 198.
5. William P. Richardson at Find a Grave

Sources

• Reid, Whitelaw (1895). "Brevet Brigadier-General W. P. Richardson". Ohio in the War Her Statesmen Generals and Soldiers. 1. Cincinnati: The Robert Clarke Company. pp. 945–946.