William E. Simonds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Edgar Simonds
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William Edgar Simonds, Medal of Honor recipient
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| Born | November 24, 1842 Collinsville, Connecticut |
| Died | March 14, 1903 (aged 60) Hartford, Connecticut |
| Place of burial |
Canton Center Cemetery Canton, Connecticut
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| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/ |
Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1863 |
| Rank |  Second Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War *Battle of Irish Bend |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Other work | Lawyer Congressman |
William Edgar Simonds (born November 24, 1842 – died March 14, 1903) was an important person from Connecticut. He served in the United States House of Representatives, which is part of the U.S. government. He also received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award a soldier can get in the U.S. military. He earned this award for his brave actions during the American Civil War.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning
William Edgar Simonds was born in Collinsville, Connecticut. This town is part of Canton, Connecticut. He went to public school and then Collinsville High School. In 1860, he finished his studies at Connecticut State Normal School in New Britain, Connecticut. After that, he became a teacher.
Military Service
During the American Civil War, William Simonds joined the army on August 18, 1862. He started as a private in Company A of the 25th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Before officially joining, he was promoted to sergeant major.
Battle of Irish Bend
On April 14, 1863, Simonds fought in the Battle of Irish Bend in Louisiana. His brave actions during this battle later earned him the Medal of Honor. Just ten days after the battle, he became an officer. He was promoted to second lieutenant and moved to Company I of his regiment. He left the army with his regiment in August 1863.
Life After the War
After serving in the military, Simonds went to Yale Law School and finished his studies in 1865. He became a Lawyer and started practicing law in Hartford, Connecticut.
Political Career
Simonds became involved in politics. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1883 and again in 1885. In 1885, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House, which means he led the meetings.
He was elected as a Republican to the 51st United States Congress. He served in Congress from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1891. He tried to be re-elected in 1890 but was not successful.
After Congress, he worked as the United States Commissioner of Patents from 1891 to 1893. This job involved overseeing new inventions and ideas.
Later Years
William Simonds was also on the board of trustees for the Connecticut Agricultural College. He played a big part in changing the college's leadership in 1898. He helped his friend, George Washington Flint, become the new president.
On February 25, 1899, Simonds finally received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Irish Bend. This was 36 years after the battle happened!
After leaving politics, Simonds went back to being a lawyer. He passed away in Hartford, Connecticut, on March 14, 1903. He was buried in the Village Cemetery in his hometown of Canton, Connecticut.
