Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-18
He Passed Away Yesterday Morn.
ing at Lexington, Virginia.
A DISTINGUISHED CAREER.
Congestion of the Lungs tho, Cause of His
Sudden Demise For Many Years He
Had Been Closely identified with the
Educational and Political History of the
Country "a Sketch of His Rise and Pro-
gross rs IA Citizen and Public Official.

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot.)
Lexington. Va, Oct. 17.-Hon. Will
liam l.. Wilson, president of Washing
ton and Lee University and ex-Post
master-General, died suddenly at s:2o
o'clock this morning of congestion of
the lungs. He had been failing ever
Dr.. Arthur Wilson, OF Lynchburg. Va,
visited him Sunday and left Monday.
linen came the sudden change.
Mr. Wilson'S attendant physician did
not give up hope of his rallying until
late last night. He was confined to the
house from Tuesday week, but was
thought TO be improved when his son
left him. He was conscious until the
last. BY his bedside were his wife.
his daughters, Misses Mary and Bette
Wilson, and one son, William II. Will
son.
Hon. William Lyme Wilson was born
in jefferson county. Va, now West
Virginia May 3. 1913. He was the only
child of benjamin Wilson by his sec
ond wife, who was Mary Whiting Lyme.
benjamin Wilson was native OF King
and Queen county. Va. and Mary
Lyme although born in Jefferson, was
II resident of that county until her mar
riagc.
Benjamin Wilson lost his father in
childhood. but enjoyed the training of
one of the foremost teachers of Wiz
ginia at that day--the Rev. DIR. II. b.
Semple-at his classical school, Nor
dington, in King and Queen. His
scholarship and character were such
that when DIR. Semple was requested
by his linsman, William Baylor, of JEFF
ferSon, to send him tutor for his chill
dren. he selected young Wilson. who
henceforward made that county his
home. and for some years made teach
ingphis profession. He was a jackson
ian Democrat of the most vigorous
type. He died before his son William
was four years OF age, enjoining by his
will and otherwise that the latter
should be thoroughly educated. Mrs.
Wilson, who was as marked by shrink
ing modesty as by devoted piety, gave
herself to this duty with Il singleness
of purpose only equaled by her faith
in the future usefulness and distinction
of her son.
William first attended the Charles
town Academy, where he was noted for
his quick mind and studious habits
At IL he had read more Latin, Greek
and French than is required for college
graduates. although mathematics was
his favoritc study. He then entered
the junior class of Columbian UniVer-
sity, District of Columbia and grad
uated in 1860, mt the age Of II. He de-
clincd n tutorship in this college and
went to the University of Virginia With
the intention OF spending several years
The war broke up the school and Mr.
Wilson enlisted in 1862 in the Confede-
rate army. He Joined in the organiza
ton of Baylor'S Cavalry, Company Il.
Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, company
largely made up of school boys and
college graduates from jefferson, that
gained quite distinction in the ser
vice. receiving from General Robert Il.
Lee himself the unique compliment of
81 fnrinnrs1t Inv nr1nrc n L
liant charge made under his own eyes
at Warrenton Bridge.
COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND LAW
YER.
At the close of the war Mr. Wilson
was offered the place of assistant pro
lessor of ancient languages in Column
binn college, and while so engaged
studied law and graduated in 1867. But
being promoted to the full chair of
Latin. and dcbarred by the lawyers
test oath In West Virginia. he held on
to his professorship until 1871. when he
resigned and began pra ctice in Char
lcstown in partnership with his cousin.
Captain George Baylor, having Il full
practice almost from the start. and
gaming prominence, not only as an adj
Nocate but as often selected for fidu-
ciary trusts
HIS ENTRANCE INTO POLITICS.
He first entered politics in 1850 as a
delegate to the National Democrats
Convention. and in that year made a
canvass of his State as elector-at large
on the Hancock ticket, which attract
ed much attention. In 1882 he was
asked by the unanimous vote of the
regents to take the presidency of tho
West Virginia State University. and
reluctantly accepted, entering on his
duties September 9Th. On September
goth he was nominated by acclamation
as the Democratic candidate for Con-
gress from his district and was elected
on the second Tuesday in October fol-
lowing. He resigned his position Mt
the University with the beginning of
his Congressional term. March 4tb
1883. but on the unanimous petition of
regents. faculty and students served
until the end of the session in June,
refusing pay for this period. Mr.
Wilson was reelected to Congress five
times. He was again the nominee in
1894. but was defeated by Hon. A. g.
Dayton, Republican.
y TARIFF REFORMER.
His twelve years of Congressional
service were marked by hard work
ing influence. reputation and promi-
hence in the country.
y CLEVELAND MAN.
AS he had been an outspoken and
earnest advocate Of Mr.. Cleveland's
nomination in 1892, he was selected nv
the friends of the latter for perma-
nent chairman of the National Demo-
cratic Convention mt Chicago. and his
speech on assuming the chair as also
his subsequent address informing Mr..
Cleveland OF his nomination, in the
Madison Square Garden. was regarded
as masterpiece of political oratory
and kindied the most intense enthusi-
asm.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
Meanwhile Speaker Crisp. in response
to what seemed a clear designation of