Reuel Williams

Reuel Williams
United States Senator from Maine
In office March 4, 1837 – February 15, 1843
Preceded by	Judah Dana
Succeeded by	John Fairfield
Personal details
Born	June 2, 1783 Hallowell, Maine
Died	July 25, 1862(1862-07-25) (aged 79) Augusta, Maine
Resting place	Augusta, Maine
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Law

Reuel Williams (June 2, 1783 – July 25, 1862) was a U.S. Senator from Maine.

Born in Hallowell, Maine to Seth Williams and Zilpha Ingraham, he attended Hallowell Academy, and went on to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1804, commencing practice in Augusta, Maine.

He was a member of the Maine Legislature from 1812 to 1829 and again in 1832 and 1848. He was commissioner of public buildings in 1831. He served as a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1836.

In 1837, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ether Shepley and served from March 4, 1837, to February 15, 1843, when he resigned.

While in the Senate he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Naval Affairs.

He was also the manager of the Kennebec & Portland Railroad for 12 years. He died in Augusta, aged 79, and was interred in his family's cemetery on the banks of the Kennebec River in Augusta.

His son, Joseph H. Williams, also a politician, was elected Governor of Maine. A daughter, Jane E. Williams, married Unitarian minister and author Sylvester Judd on August 31, 1841; they had three children.

References

• Poor, John A. Memoir of Hon. Reuel Williams, Prepared for the Maine Historical Society. Cambridge, Mass.: Priv. print. H.O. Houghton and Company, 1864. googlebooks Retrieved May 3, 2008

• United States Congress. "Reuel Williams (id: W000532)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 

United States Senators from Maine
Class 1	Holmes Parris Holmes Shepley Dana Williams Fairfield Moor Hamlin Nourse Hamlin Morrill Hamlin E. Hale Johnson F. Hale Brewster Payne Muskie Mitchell Snowe King
Class 2	Chandler Sprague Ruggles Evans Bradbury Fessenden Farwell Fessenden Morrill Blaine Frye Gardner Burleigh Fernald Gould White Smith Hathaway Cohen Collins

Chairmen of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
Military Affairs Committee (1816–1947)	J. Williams Troup J. Williams Jackson Harrison Benton Preston Crittenden Benton Cass Benton Davis Shields Weller Davis Johnson Wilson Logan Spencer Randolph Logan Sewell Hawley Walthall Hawley Proctor Warren du Pont Johnston Chamberlain Wadsworth Reed Sheppard Reynolds Thomas
Naval Affairs Committee (1816–1947)	Tait Sanford Pleasants Lloyd Hayne Dallas Southard Rives R. Williams Mangum Bayard Fairfield Yulee Gwin Mallory J. Hale Grimes Cragin Sargent McPherson Cameron McPherson Cameron E. Hale Perkins Tillman Swanson Page F. Hale Trammell Walsh
Armed Services Committee (1947–present)	Gurney Tydings Russell Saltonstall Russell Stennis Tower Goldwater Nunn Thurmond Warner Levin Warner Levin Warner Levin McCain