Blount, William, 1749-1800

Detailed View Similarity Assertions 1 Revision History Sources

Hide Profile

William Blount (March 26, 1749 – March 21, 1800) was an American Founding Father, statesman, and land speculator who signed the United States Constitution. He was a member of the North Carolina delegation at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and led the efforts for North Carolina to ratify the Constitution in 1789 at the Fayetteville Convention. He then served as the only governor of the Southwest Territory and played a leading role in helping the territory gain admission to the union as the state of Tennessee. He was selected as one of Tennessee's initial United States Senators in 1796, serving until he was expelled for treason in 1797.

Born to a prominent North Carolina family, Blount served as a paymaster during the American Revolutionary War. He was elected to the North Carolina legislature in 1781, where he remained in one role or another for most of the decade, except for two terms in the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1786. Blount pushed efforts in the legislature to open the lands west of the Appalachians to settlement. As governor of the Southwest Territory, he negotiated the Treaty of Holston in 1791, bringing thousands of acres of Indian lands under U.S. control.

An aggressive land speculator, Blount gradually acquired millions of acres in Tennessee and the Trans-Appalachian West. His risky land investments left him in debt, and in the 1790s, he conspired with Great Britain to seize the Spanish-controlled Louisiana in the hope of boosting western land prices. When the conspiracy was uncovered in 1797, he was expelled from the Senate and became the first federal official to face impeachment. However, Blount remained popular in Tennessee and served in the state senate during the last years of his life.

Blount died in Knoxville and was buried at the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Tazewell family. Papers, 1756-1931. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817. Letter, 1798 Feb. 3, [to] Rob[er]t E. Griffith. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Caldwell, Mary Emily French, 1896-1982. Collection, ca. 1930-1940. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. Draper manuscripts: Tennessee papers, 1771-1883. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Masterson, William H. William H. Masterson collection, 1966-1979. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Library
referencedIn United States. War Dept. Timothy Pickering letters, 1795-1798, bulk 1795. Newberry Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. ALS, 1795, January 23, Knoxville [Tennessee], to David Henley, agent of the Department of War. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. Letter : Philadelphia, Pa., to John Sevier, Knoxville, Ky., 1797 June 1. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. DS, 1795 July 21, Knoxville [Tennessee], to David Henley, Agent of the Department of War. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. William Blount papers, 1794-1796. Newberry Library
referencedIn Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio. Governor (1790-1796 : Blount). Report to Henry Knox regarding preparations for war by Cherokee Indians : Knoxville, Southwest Territory, 1792 Oct 7. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. William Blount letter : to General Smith, 1793 June 15. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Caldwell collection, 1795-1919. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf Blount, William. Autograph letter signed : to Gov. Caswell, 1787 Mar. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816. Benjamin Hawkins papers, 1790-1813 Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. Warrant, 9 July 1794. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Grant British Library
referencedIn Andrew Ellicott Papers, 1777-1829 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Henley, David, 1749-1823. Papers, 1791-1800. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Green, Samuel, 1767-1837. Samuel Green papers, 1793-1842. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Shelby, Isaac, 1750-1826. Isaac Shelby papers, 1784-1816. University of Kentucky Libraries
creatorOf Washington (D.C.). Statehood Constitutional Convention (1982). Washington, D.C. Statehood Constitutional Convention transcript, 1982 Feb. 9-May 29. George Washington University
referencedIn Colgate, Craig. Collection regarding the Blount Conspiracy, 1797. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
referencedIn Overton, John, 1766-1833. John Overton papers, 1790-1840 [microfilm manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. LS, 1793 June 6 : Knoxville, to His Excellency Governor Shelly. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Tazewell family. Papers, 1756-1931. Library of Virginia
referencedIn McKee, John, 1771-1832. Papers of John McKee, circa 1792-1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. William Blount papers, 1783-1823. Library of Congress
referencedIn Holstonian, pseudonym. Letter : to Mr. Claypole / by Holstonian, 1791 Aug 16. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Ashe, John Baptista, 1748-1802. Letter : New York [N.Y.], to His Excellency, Richard Caswell esquire, 1787 Aug. 16. Newberry Library
creatorOf William Blount letters to John Sevier, 1796, 1797 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Witherspoon, John, 1723-1794. ALS, 1787 Feb. 19, Tusculum, N.J., to William Blount and Benjamin Hawkins, [Philadelphia?]. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. Letter : Philadelphia, Pa., to John Sevier, Knoxville, Tenn., 1797 June 1. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Lovely, William L. Letter : Tellico, [Tenn.], to Col. David Henley, Knoxville, [Tenn.], 1796 Apr. 5. Newberry Library
referencedIn Corbitt, James S. James S. Corbitt autograph collection, 1787-1976. University of Tennessee Martin, Paul Meek Library
referencedIn Irwin, Jared, 1750-1818. Papers, 1783-1855. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Mountflorence, James Cole. Letter, 1793 January 22, Norfolk, [Virginia] to Thomas Jefferson, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Steele, John, 1764-1815. Letters, 1797-1825. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Steele, John, 1764-1815. John Steele papers, 1716-1846 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Blount, William, 1749-1800. [Document] 1795 Jan. 19, Knoxville / Wm. Blount. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. George Washington and the Blount conspiracy : autographed letters and documents, 1797. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Chase Papers, 1791-1870 New Hampshire Historical Society Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn United States. Congress. House. Committee on Impeachment of William Blount. Articles exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States, in the name of themselves and all the people of the United States, against William Blount : in maintenance and support of their impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio. Governor (1790-1796 : Blount). Report to Henry Knox regarding preparations for war by Cherokee Indians : Knoxville, Southwest Territory, 1792 Oct 7. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
correspondedWith Allison, David person
associatedWith Ashe, John Baptista, 1748-1802. person
sibling of Blount, Thomas, 1759-1812 person
sibling of Blount, Thomas, 1759-1812. person
parentOf Blount, William Grainger, 1784-1827 person
sibling of Blount, Willie, 1768-1835. person
associatedWith Butler-Gunsaulus Collection (University of Chicago. Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Caldwell, Mary Emily French, 1896-1982. person
associatedWith Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789, person
associatedWith Colgate, Craig. person
associatedWith Corbitt, James S. person
associatedWith Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817. person
associatedWith Dana, Francis, 1743-1811. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Green, Samuel, 1767-1837. person
correspondedWith Hart, Thomas, d. 1808 person
correspondedWith Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816 person
correspondedWith Hays, Robert person
correspondedWith Haywood, John, 1762-1826 person
associatedWith Henley, David. person
associatedWith Henley, David, 1749-1823. person
correspondedWith Holland, James, 1754-1823 person
associatedWith Holstonian, pseudonym. person
associatedWith Irwin, Jared, 1750-1818. person
correspondedWith Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845 person
associatedWith Lovely, William L. person
associatedWith Marshall, John, 1755-1835. person
correspondedWith Martin, Wyly person
associatedWith Masterson, William H. person
correspondedWith McKee, John, 1771-1832. person
associatedWith Miller, Pleasant Moorman, d. 1849. person
associatedWith Mountflorence, James Cole. person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Overton, John, 1766-1833. person
correspondedWith Pickens, Andrew, 1739-1817 person
associatedWith Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, 1746-1825. person
correspondedWith Pitchlynn, John, ca. 1756-1835 person
correspondedWith Robertson, James, 1742-1814 person
correspondedWith Sevier, John, 1745-1815 person
associatedWith Shelby, Isaac, 1750-1826. person
associatedWith Steele, John, 1764-1815. person
associatedWith Suna, Peter. person
associatedWith Tazewell family. family
associatedWith Tennessee. Militia corporateBody
associatedWith Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio. Governor (1790-1796 : Blount) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
correspondedWith United States. Army. Pay Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Impeachment of William Blount. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Southern Indian Dept. corporateBody
correspondedWith United States. War Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Washington (D.C.). Statehood Constitutional Convention (1982) corporateBody
correspondedWith Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819 person
associatedWith Witherspoon, John, 1723-1794. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Knoxville TN US
Bertie County NC US
Subject
Cherokee Indians
Chickasaw Indians
Choctaw Indians
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Land speculation
Manuscripts, American
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Indian agents
Land speculators
Senators, U.S. Congress
State Representative
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1749-04-06

Death 1800-03-21

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Related Descriptions
Virtual International Authority File WorldCat Identities LC/NACO Wikidata
Search Elsewhere
ArchiveGrid Search DPLA Search
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68m827h

Ark ID: w68m827h

SNAC ID: 87425751