William Freeman Vilas

The Honorable William Freeman Vilas
File:Vilas2.jpg
United States Senator from Wisconsin
In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	John Coit Spooner
Succeeded by	John Coit Spooner
33rd United States Postmaster General
In office March 6, 1885 – January 6, 1888
President	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	Frank Hatton
Succeeded by	Donald M. Dickinson
17th United States Secretary of the Interior
In office January 16, 1888 – March 6, 1889
President	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	Lucius Q.C. Lamar
Succeeded by	John Willock Noble
Personal details
Born	(1840-07-09)July 9, 1840 Chelsea, Vermont, U.S.
Died	Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Anna M. Vilas
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison University at Albany
Profession	Politician, Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Unit	23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War

William Freeman Vilas (July 9, 1840 – August 27, 1908) was a member of the Democratic Party who served in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1891 to 1897. He was a prominent Bourbon Democrat.

Life and career

Vilas was born in Chelsea, Vermont, the son of Esther Greene (Smilie) and Levi Baker Vilas, a politician. Vilas moved to Madison, Wisconsin with his family in 1851. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1858, and from the Albany Law School in 1860. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a captain in the 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later served as the lieutenant colonel of that regiment.

Following the war, Vilas was a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a regent of the University from 1880 to 1885 and 1898 to 1905. Vilas served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1885, until he was appointed the Postmaster General between 1885 and 1888, and as Secretary of the Interior from 1888 to 1889, both under President Grover Cleveland.

After leaving the cabinet, he led Wisconsin German Americans in the protest against the Bennett Law of 1889 which required schools to only use the English language. From 1891 until 1897 he was a member of the United States Senate, in which, during President Cleveland's second term, he was recognized as the chief defender of the Administration, and he was especially active in securing the repeal of the silver purchase clause of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. He was unsuccessful in an 1896 reelection bid, having been defeated by Senator John Coit Spooner.

Vilas was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1896, but withdrew after the adoption of the free-silver plank. He then became one of the chief organizers of the National Democratic Party, attended the convention at Indianapolis, and was chairman of its committee on resolutions. He was also the main drafter of the National Democratic Party's platform. Vilas, a favorite of the delegates, refused to run as the party's sacrificial lamb.

He is interred at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin.

Vilas County, Wisconsin is named for William F. Vilas. Senator Vilas is also the namesake of the town of Vilas, South Dakota.

See also

• Henry Vilas Zoo

Sources

• William Freeman Vilas at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-15

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Frank Hatton	United States Postmaster General Served under: Grover Cleveland 1885–1888	Succeeded by Donald M. Dickinson
Preceded by Lucius Q.C. Lamar	U.S. Secretary of the Interior Served under: Grover Cleveland 1888–1889	Succeeded by John W. Noble
United States Senate
Preceded by John C. Spooner	Senator from Wisconsin (Class 3) 1891–1897 with Philetus Sawyer (1891–1893) John L. Mitchell (1893–1897)	Succeeded by John C. Spooner