Waitman Willey

Biography

Waitman Willey (1811-1900) was a West Virginia lawyer, politician, and staunch Union supporter who played a significant role in Virginia politics during the Civil War. As a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, Willey opposed secession and later became instrumental in the creation of West Virginia as a separate state. He served as a U.S. Senator from West Virginia and was known for his advocacy of moderate Reconstruction policies and support for education in the post-war period.