William H. Ludlow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Handy Ludlow
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|---|---|
| Speaker of the New York State Assembly | |
| In office January 1 – December 31, 1853 |
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| Preceded by | Jonas C. Heartt |
| Succeeded by | Robert H. Pruyn |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Suffolk Co. | |
| In office January 1 – December 31, 1853 |
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| Preceded by | Zopher B. Oakley |
| Succeeded by | William S. Preston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 2, 1821 Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 1890 (aged 69) Oakdale, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Frances Louisa Nicoll
(m. 1841; |
| Children | 6, |
| Parents | Ezra Ludlow Rachel Seguine |
| Relatives | William Ludlow (son) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel Brevet Major General |
| Unit | 73rd New York Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Handy Ludlow (born April 2, 1821, died September 26, 1890) was an important American politician. He also served as a brave officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Growing Up
William Ludlow was born in Yonkers, New York, on April 2, 1821. His parents were Ezra Ludlow and Rachel Seguine. His father, Ezra, was a talented architect and builder. He helped construct the University of the City of New York building.
William came from a very old and important family. One of his ancestors, Roger Ludlow, was an early leader in the American colonies. He was a Deputy Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut. William's great-grandfather, Obadiah Ludlow, was an officer during the American Revolution. He worked closely with George Washington.
William Ludlow later graduated from New York University.
Political Career
In 1853, William Ludlow became a member of the New York State Assembly for Suffolk County. He was part of the Democratic Party. During this time, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the Assembly. This meant he was in charge of leading the meetings and discussions.
As Speaker, he worked with Governor Horatio Seymour. The Governor once rejected a bill about banking, which was a big topic at the time. In 1854, William Ludlow ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York, but he did not win the election. He also attended a big meeting for the Democratic Party in 1860.
Serving in the War
When the American Civil War began, William Ludlow joined the Union Army. He started as a second lieutenant in the 73rd New York Volunteer Infantry. He quickly became a lieutenant colonel and worked as an aide to Major General John Adams Dix.
Near the end of the war, he helped with the exchange of prisoners at Fort Monroe. For his loyal and excellent service during the war, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and then major general in 1865.
After the War
After the Civil War, William Ludlow continued to be involved in public life. In 1866, he was part of a state committee that represented New York. Even though he officially retired from politics, he still went to many political events.
Starting in 1868, he became the president of the Tontine Life Insurance Company of New York.
Family Life
On December 9, 1841, William Ludlow married Frances Louisa Nicoll. She came from an important family that owned a large estate on Long Island. They had six children together. Some of their children became notable adults:
- Nicoll Ludlow (1842–1915) became an Admiral in the Navy.
- William Ludlow (1843–1901) also had a successful career.
In 1889, William Ludlow sold his large estate called "Oakdale Farm." He passed away on September 26, 1890, in Oakdale, New York.
