Lieutenant James Taylor Ellyson Profession Politician, Lawyer Party Democratic Party Unit 12th Virginia Infantry Political party Democratic Role American Politician | Preceded by Robert Turnbull Name William Mann Preceded by Claude A. Swanson Religion Presbyterian Succeeded by Henry Carter Stuart | |
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Full Name William Hodges Mann Born July 30, 1843
Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S. ( 1843-07-30 ) Died December 12, 1927, Petersburg, Virginia, United States | ||
Battles and wars American Civil War Service/branch Confederate States Army |
William Hodges Mann (July 30, 1843 – December 12, 1927) was an American Democratic politician. Mann was the 46th Governor of Virginia from 1910 to 1914. He attended Brownsburg Academy.
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Political career
Mann became Deputy Clerk of Nottoway County, Virginia. He left to serve in the 12th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War until he was injured. He then served the Confederacy in various positions. He was the last Confederate soldier to serve as Governor of Virginia.
After Appomattox, Mann began practicing law in Nottoway County. In 1870, he became the first county judge of Nottoway County. He introduced legislation to construct 350 high schools in Virginia and to close 800 rural saloons. Mann was in favor of Prohibition but only at the state level.
He is also known for refusing to prevent the execution of the juvenile Virginia Christian, a black house maid who was convicted of murder after killing her white employer, during his governorship.
Election
1909; Mann was elected Governor of Virginia with 63.35% of the vote, defeating Republican William P. Kent and Socialist Labor A.H. Dennitt.