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THE CLAIBORNES
Three Claibornes, renowned in Louisiana and Mississippi history, descended from the first William Claiborne who landed at Jamestown in 1621 to serve as surveyor of the plantation of Virginia for the London Company. Subsequent Claibornes were staunch supporters of the American Revolution, reducing the family to poverty in support of the Cause.
The heirs to the family name, if not fortune, earned scorn as well as accolades during the 19th century.
Following are brief summaries of the careers of the three most notable members: WILLIAM CHARLES COLE CLAIBORNE (1775-1819)
After attending William and Mary College, William, at age 15, made his way to New York, then the seat of national government where he secured a job copying bills and resolutions for members of Congress. While there Thomas Jefferson gave him access to his excellent library and John Sevier urged him to study law and go to Tennessee.
William was admitted to the bar after only three months? intensive study and then equipped with a copy of Gladstone, he journeyed to Sullivan County, Tennessee, where within two years he had no rival as an advocate at the criminal bar. On the formation of Tennessee as a state, Governor John Sevier appointed him judge of the Supreme Court of Law and Equity. He was just 22 years old.
It was this brilliant young man that President Thomas Jefferson appointed Governor of Mississippi Territory in 1801 to succeed Winthrop Sargent.
One of the most important acts of the Claiborne administration was the collection, for the federal government, of data relative to Mississippi land titles, then in a chaotic condition. His report to Secretary Madison was the foundation on which Congress based future measures for the settlement of land titles.
After the Louisiana Purchase, the young statesman was made governor of the Territory of Orleans, a post he held until Louisiana was admitted to the union in 1812, after which he served two terms as elected Governor of Louisiana.
William died at age 42 on the threshold of a promising national career. But for 17 years, he was one of the most important men in public service in what was then the great Southwest Frontier. He was a champion of Jeffersonian liberalism and spokesman for Western democracy.
FERDINAND LEIGH CLAIBORNE (1771-1815)
Brother of W.C.C. Claiborne, Ferdinand served as commander of the militia of Mississippi Territory. He won renown as an officer under General Mad Anthony Wayne. He resigned from the army in 1802 and went to Natchez during his brother?s administration as governor of the Territory. There he became a merchant and married the daughter of Colonel Anthony Hutchins, the English Tory who was one of the leaders in the abortive 1781 revolt against Spanish rule at Natchez.