[William Henry]. American statesman, born at Hartwick, near Cooperstown, NY, on the 25th of April 1811. He graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1835; practiced medicine, and afterward law. He went to Illinois in 1837, and was elected to the legislature of that state in 1840. He then served in the Mexican War, and took a distinguished part in the battle of Buena Vista. From December 1849 to March 3, 1855, he served in Congress as an Independent Democrat, but left the Democratic party over the Kansas–Nebraska bill, and was elected governor of Illinois as a Republican in 1856. He was re-elected, and died in office, at Springfield, on the 18th of March 1860. During the discussions on the Missouri compromise in Congress, Jefferson Davis took exception to a statement made by Mr. Bissell, and challenged him, but friends interfered and there was no duel.
