- William Lowndes Calhoun
William Lowndes Calhoun (
November 23 ,1837 –November 16 ,1908 ) [ [http://garrett.atlantahistorycenter.com/gdetail.php?idnum=42068 Franklin Garrett Necrology Database - Atlanta History Center] ] was an American attorney and politician from the state of Georgia who served asMayor of Atlanta .Calhoun was born in
Decatur, Georgia , son of fellow Atlanta mayorJames Calhoun . The family moved to Atlanta in 1852 and, at the age of sixteen, William began reading law at his father's firm. He passed the bar in 1857.In March 1862, Calhoun enlisted in the
Confederate States Army and was commissioned as captain of Company K of the 42nd Georgia Infantry. He served inKnoxville, Tennessee , and then in theVicksburg Campaign , where he and hisregiment were surrendered byJohn C. Pemberton onJuly 4 ,1863 . After being exchanged, Calhoun served in theAtlanta Campaign and was wounded at theBattle of Resaca . After his recovery, he served in theArmy of Tennessee under General Hood in Tennessee.Returning to Atlanta after the war, he served in the state legislature from 1872 to 1876 and, following in his late father's footsteps, was elected Mayor of Atlanta in 1879. During his term of service, he inaugurated the city's street paving system.
He left his law practice to serve as judge of the
Court of Ordinary of Fulton County from 1881 to 1897.Notes
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