William R. Webb
Encyclopedia
William Robert Webb also known as Sawney Webb, was an educator who founded The Webb School
and served briefly as a Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee
.
. He was the grandson of Richard Stanford
, an early ten-term United States Representative
from North Carolina
. His father, Alexander Webb, died when he was six years old. He attended private school
s, including the Bingham School in Oaks, North Carolina
, and then matriculated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1860. However, he soon left to join the Confederate Army
in the Fifteenth North Carolina Infantry Regiment, in which he served until badly wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill
on July 1, 1862. While recovering from his wounds, he again attended UNC. In the spring of 1864, he re-enlisted as a private in the Second North Carolina Cavalry Regiment and had risen to the rank of Captain by the time of his capture on April 3, 1865 after the Battle of Namozine Church
. He was imprisoned on Hart's Island in western Long Island Sound and then transferred to a prison at the battery in southern Manhattan in June, 1865, from which he escaped for a one day adventure in the city. After the conclusion of the Civil War
he returned to UNC, graduating in 1868 and subsequently teaching at a private school in Oxford, North Carolina
until 1870.
That year he moved to Tennessee and established The Webb School
, a preparatory school
in the small community of Culleoka
. In 1886, after Culleoka incorporated
and legalized the sale of liquor in the new city, he (being a prohibitionist) moved the Webb School to Bell Buckle
, where it still exists today.
Webb married Emma Clary on April 23, 1873 and together they produced eight children: William Robert, Jr. (1874–1960), Alla (1875–1944), John Stanford (1877–1951), Adeline (1879–1968), Daniel Clary (1881–1954), Susan (1882–1980), Emma (1884–1973), and Thompson (1887–1975). His eldest son Will succeeded him as principal at the Webb School, and his youngest son Thompson founded the Webb School of California (now The Webb Schools
) in Claremont in 1922.
He was elected to the United States Senate by the Tennessee General Assembly
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Robert Love Taylor
, and served from January 24 to March 4, 1913. He was the last Confederate soldier to do so. Always a prohibitionist, he delivered his one speech in the Senate to support a law prohibiting interstate transport of liquor. He then returned to Bell Buckle and his school, dying there in 1926 and being buried at Hazelwood Cemetery.
Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tennessee)
The Webb School is a private coeducational college preparatory boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, founded in 1870. It has been called the oldest, continuously operating boarding school in the South...
and served briefly as a Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Biography
Webb was born in Person County, North CarolinaPerson County, North Carolina
Person County is a county located in the Piedmont region in north-central North Carolina in the United States. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area. The population was 39,464 at the 2010 census.The county seat is Roxboro...
. He was the grandson of Richard Stanford
Richard Stanford
Richard Stanford was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1797 and 1816.-Biography:...
, an early ten-term United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. His father, Alexander Webb, died when he was six years old. He attended private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s, including the Bingham School in Oaks, North Carolina
Oaks, North Carolina
Oaks is an unincorporated community in southwestern Orange County, North Carolina, United States. It is located southwest of Teer, North Carolina....
, and then matriculated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1860. However, he soon left to join the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
in the Fifteenth North Carolina Infantry Regiment, in which he served until badly wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill
Battle of Malvern Hill
The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on July 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the seventh and last day of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable...
on July 1, 1862. While recovering from his wounds, he again attended UNC. In the spring of 1864, he re-enlisted as a private in the Second North Carolina Cavalry Regiment and had risen to the rank of Captain by the time of his capture on April 3, 1865 after the Battle of Namozine Church
Battle of Namozine Church
The Battle of Namozine Church, Virginia was a minor engagement that occurred on April 3, 1865 during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was the first engagement between units of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E...
. He was imprisoned on Hart's Island in western Long Island Sound and then transferred to a prison at the battery in southern Manhattan in June, 1865, from which he escaped for a one day adventure in the city. After the conclusion of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he returned to UNC, graduating in 1868 and subsequently teaching at a private school in Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,461 at the 2010 census It is the county seat of Granville County.-History:...
until 1870.
That year he moved to Tennessee and established The Webb School
Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tennessee)
The Webb School is a private coeducational college preparatory boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, founded in 1870. It has been called the oldest, continuously operating boarding school in the South...
, a preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in the small community of Culleoka
Culleoka, Tennessee
Culleoka is an unincorporated community in Maury County, Tennessee, United States.The Culleoka School, enrolling kindergarten through grade 12, is operated as a unit of Maury County Public Schools....
. In 1886, after Culleoka incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
and legalized the sale of liquor in the new city, he (being a prohibitionist) moved the Webb School to Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle, Tennessee
Bell Buckle is a town in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 500 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bell Buckle is located at ....
, where it still exists today.
Webb married Emma Clary on April 23, 1873 and together they produced eight children: William Robert, Jr. (1874–1960), Alla (1875–1944), John Stanford (1877–1951), Adeline (1879–1968), Daniel Clary (1881–1954), Susan (1882–1980), Emma (1884–1973), and Thompson (1887–1975). His eldest son Will succeeded him as principal at the Webb School, and his youngest son Thompson founded the Webb School of California (now The Webb Schools
The Webb Schools
The Webb Schools is the collective name for two private schools for grades 9-12, founded by Thompson Webb, located in Claremont, California. The Webb School of California for boys was established in 1922, and the Vivian Webb School for girls in 1981. Both are primarily boarding schools, but they...
) in Claremont in 1922.
He was elected to the United States Senate by the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Robert Love Taylor
Robert Love Taylor
Robert Love Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1879 to 1881, Governor of Tennessee from 1887 to 1891 and from 1897 to 1899, and subsequently a United States Senator from that state from 1907 until his death. He is notable for winning the governor's office in an election against...
, and served from January 24 to March 4, 1913. He was the last Confederate soldier to do so. Always a prohibitionist, he delivered his one speech in the Senate to support a law prohibiting interstate transport of liquor. He then returned to Bell Buckle and his school, dying there in 1926 and being buried at Hazelwood Cemetery.