Years of service 1861–64 Name William Stoughton | Role Politician Rank Major general | |
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Born March 20, 1827
Bangor, New York ( 1827-03-20 ) Place of burial Oaklawn Cemetery, Sturgis Commands held 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment; 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland Battles/wars American Civil War
Battle of Stones River
Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chattanooga Died June 6, 1888, Sturgis, Michigan, United States Battles and wars Battle of Stones River, Battle of Chickamauga, Chattanooga Campaign, American Civil War Service/branch United States Army, Union Army Allegiance United States of America, Union Other work United States House of Representatives, Lawyer | ||
William Lewis Stoughton (March 20, 1827 – June 6, 1888) was a politician and soldier from U.S. state of Michigan who served in the United States Congress, as well as serving as a general and brigade commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Stoughton was born in Bangor, New York. He attended Kirtland, Painesville, and Madison Academies in Lake County, Ohio. He studied law in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan from 1849 to 1851 when he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Sturgis, Michigan.
Stoughton was a prosecuting attorney of St. Joseph County from 1855 to 1859 and a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention. He was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as United States District Attorney for the District of Michigan in March 1861, but resigned a few months later to enter the Union Army following the outbreak of the Civil War.
He served as colonel of the 11th Michigan Infantry. Stoughton commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chattanooga. He later was promoted to the rank of major general by brevet. He resigned in August 1864 because of ill health and resumed the practice of his profession in Sturgis, Michigan, in 1865.
In 1867, Stoughton became a member of the Michigan State Constitutional convention and served as Michigan Attorney General from 1867 to 1868. He was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 2nd congressional district to the 41st and 42nd Congresses, serving from March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1873. He returned to the practice of law in 1874.
William L. Stoughton died in Sturgis and was interred in Oak Lawn Cemetery.