Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-05
A MaryIander Who Had a Long
and Remarkable Career.

DIR. Purnell was about 16 years old.
At the time of his death he was profes-
sor of logic. law and elocution at the
Delaware College. He was trustee of
the institution and a member of the
Baltimore Presbytery.
PROMINENT IN STIRRING TIMES.
Few Marylanders have had such a
varied career as Rev. DIR. William H.
Purnell, who i'll law. politics, education
and the ministry achieved distinction.
In stirring times he was often an active
and prominent figure.
Born on the family farm, "Queponco." F"
he entered Buckingham Academy, at
Berlin. where he was prepared for ad-
mission to Delaware College. at Newark
Hill. where he read law with the late
Judge John r. Franklin and was admit
ted to the bar Notwithstanding the
fact that he was the youngest member of
\ the bar. he was chosen soon after the
death of Judge Franklin to succeed him
as the deputy of Attorney General Rich
ardson. When % years old he was elected
La member of the school board of the
| county and chief town commissioner.
DIR. Purnell was then an ardent Wing.
In his early career in Snow Hill he mar
ried Margaret Neill Martin.
DIR. Purnell served as Deputy Attorney
General until 1855. when he was elected
Comptroller of the the State Treasury.
In the State Nominating Convention of
the American party in 1857 his name.
with those of Col George b. Rickerds
and Thomas Holiday Hicks, was put in
nomination for Governor. He received
| "a votes on the first ballot. a number of
| which were cast. the friends of DIR. Pur-
| nell and Colonel Rickerds finally voting
for Hicks, who had received but nine
votes on the first ballot. After the nom-
ination of Governor Hicks. DR.. Purnell
was nominated as his own successor in
the office of State Comptroller. In 1859
he was renominated by the American
party by reclamation and elected to sue
ceed himself.
In 1857 Dr. Purnell was elected a trus-
tee of Maryland Agricultural College
and served ON the board ii years. He
was member of the original board of
organization and assisted i'll selecting
the site for the college.
At the instance of Governor Hicks.
Henry Winter Davis and others he was
made Postmaster of Baltimore i'll 1861,
having resigned the office of State Comp
troller to accept his new position. The
progress of the war now attracted DIR.
Purnell's attention, and at the request
of Senator Davis he went to Annapolis
to see Governor Hicks in order to use
what influence he could to prevent the
riot of April 10. 1861. 1t was against
DIR. Purnell's protest that the extra ses-
sion of the legislature called at that time
was held.
His interest in the Union cause con-
stantiy increased. The third day after
the battle of Bull Run he went to Wash.
ington and got permission to organize
the Purne-l Legion, composed originally
of one regiment of infantry, two COM
panies of cavalry and two batteries of
artillery. The old Pikesville arsenal
was used as "A recruiting station, and
Dr. Purnell, acting under colonel's
commission, took every means to per-
feet the organization of the Legion.
When about 700 men had been raised
he was ordered by General Mcclellan to
take his command to the Eastern Shore
of Virginia To break up IA Confederate
encampment supposed to be in exist
ence there. The Legion Went into camp
at Salisbury, where it was joined by
three regiments sent by General Dick
and put under command of General
Lockwood Later the Legion was or
dered back to Baltimore, its ranks then
numbering l,2I0 men.
In 1862 Colonel Purnell resigned the
command. The Legion was i'll num-
ber of important engagements. both as
legion and as portion of other COM
mands.
DIR. Purnell was reappointed post
master of Baltimore by President John
son, from whose hands he also. i'll 1866,
received the appointment of assessor of
internal revenue.
In 1864 he was elected chairman of
the Union State Central Committee, but
resigned in 1866 because of differences
of opinion ON the registration law. He
was opposed to the prOscriptive policy
and spoke i'll Frederick and elsewhere
against il.
After his retirement from politics DIR.
Purnell practiced law in Baltimore until
1870, when he was elected president of
Delaware College. his alma mater. He
held this position IL years. While at
the college he served II years as presi-
dent of the State Board of Education.
In 1885 he resigned the presidency of
the college to accept the principalship
of the Frederick Md Female Semi
nary Later he became president of
New Windsor College. Carroll county,
Maryland, and afterward returned to a
professorship in Delaware College.