William Giles Harding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Giles Harding
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Portrait of William Giles Harding
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| Born | 1808 Belle Meade, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | December 15, 1886 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Nashville |
| Occupation | Planter |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Selena McNairy Elizabeth Irwin McGavock |
| Children | John Harding II Selene Harding Mary Elizabeth Harding |
| Parent(s) | John Harding |
| Relatives | William Hicks Jackson (son-in-law), Howell Edmunds Jackson (son-in-law) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America (1861–1865) |
| Service/ |
Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
William Giles Harding (born in 1808, died December 15, 1886) was an important figure in Tennessee. He was a wealthy farmer who owned a large farm called a plantation. He was also a lawyer and bred horses. Before the American Civil War, he became a Brigadier General in the Tennessee army.
In 1839, William took over the Belle Meade Plantation near Nashville from his father. He made the plantation much bigger, growing it from 1,300 acres to 5,400 acres by 1860. He was famous for breeding and raising fast racehorses, called Thoroughbreds, and other purebred animals.
During the Civil War, Union soldiers took control of Nashville in 1862. William Harding was arrested because he was a leader who supported the Southern states. He was sent to prison at Fort Mackinac in Michigan for six months. He was later released.
After the war, William worked with his son-in-law, William Hicks Jackson, to manage Belle Meade. The plantation became very well-known for its high-quality racehorses and other livestock. Today, the main house and some land are a museum called Belle Meade Plantation. It is a historic place.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Giles Harding was born in 1808 near Nashville, Tennessee. His father, John Harding, bought 250 acres of land there in 1807.
William went to the old University of Nashville. He also studied at a military academy in Middletown, Connecticut. Later, he studied law in Litchfield, Connecticut.
Life and Career
After finishing college, William Harding moved to a farm his father bought for him. This farm was called River Farm. In 1829, he married Mary Selena McNairy. They had a son named John Harding II. Sadly, Mary died in 1837 from yellow fever, a serious illness.
In 1839, when he was 31, William started managing the Belle Meade Plantation. At that time, it was 1,300 acres. His father was busy developing a large cotton farm in Arkansas.
In 1840, William married Elizabeth McGavock. Her father, Randal McGavock, used to be the mayor of Nashville. William and Elizabeth had two daughters, Selene and Mary Elizabeth.
William bought more land around Belle Meade. By 1850, the plantation grew to 5,300 acres. In 1853, he started building a grand new house on the plantation. This house is now known as the Belle Meade Mansion.
Horse Breeding and Farming
William Harding loved breeding high-quality horses. He also raised purebred cattle, sheep, and cashmere goats. In 1856, he was the President of the Nashville Jockey Club. He held sales for young horses at Belle Meade, which made his horses very famous.
Civil War and After
William Harding strongly supported the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. He gave a lot of money to help the Confederate army. Before the war, he was a Brigadier General in the Tennessee State Militia. He was in charge of a military and money board for Tennessee.
In 1862, Union forces took over Tennessee. William was arrested and sent to Fort Mackinac in Michigan. He was held there for six months. His wife, Elizabeth, worried about everyone living at Belle Meade while he was away. William was released after paying a large amount of money.
After the Civil War, William inherited the plantation when his father died in 1867. He had to change how he managed the farm because enslaved people were now free. Some of the freed people chose to keep working for him, but many moved to a nearby African-American community called Tolbert.
William's daughter, Selene, married William Hicks Jackson, a Confederate general. William Harding agreed to the marriage if they lived at Belle Meade. After that, he and his son-in-law managed the plantation together. They became world-famous for breeding Thoroughbred horses. They even bought a famous horse named Iroquois. In 1881, Iroquois was the first American horse to win the important English Epsom Derby race.
Family Life
William Giles Harding married Mary Selena McNairy in 1829. They had one son, John Harding II. Mary died in 1837.
He then married Elizabeth Irwin McGavock. Her father was Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville. William and Elizabeth had two daughters, Selene and Mary Elizabeth.
After the Civil War, Selene Harding married General William Hicks Jackson. William's older brother, Howell Edmunds Jackson, was a lawyer and politician. Howell also married into the Harding family, marrying Mary Elizabeth, Selene's sister. Howell became a U.S. Senator for Tennessee and later a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Death and Legacy
William Giles Harding died on December 15, 1886. His obituary, a notice in the newspaper, called him 'a monarch in his own domain'. He was first buried at the plantation. Later, his remains were moved to a family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
After William's death, the Belle Meade Estate was divided equally among his three children:
- John Harding II
- Mary Elizabeth (Harding) and her husband Howell Edmunds Jackson
- Selene (Harding) and her husband General William Hicks Jackson
General "Red" Jackson and his brother Howell managed the Belle Meade Plantation together. "Red" Jackson later bought out his brother's share.
In 1903, after William Harding Jackson, Sr. died, his son William Harding Jackson (1901–1971) and daughter Selene inherited the estate. The plantation was sold in 1906 because of debts. The younger William Harding Jackson became a lawyer and worked in U.S. Army intelligence during World War II. He helped create the CIA and later served as its deputy director.
Much of the large Belle Meade plantation was turned into a neighborhood starting in 1938. Today, this area is a city called Belle Meade. The main house and 30 acres of land were kept as a private home until 1953. Then, the state of Tennessee bought it. Now, it is a museum and event place called Belle Meade Plantation. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
