U.S. Congressman, Military Figure. He was a Democratic Congressman for the Thirty-third through the Thirty-six Congress and had a military career. Born the younger of two sons, he was orphaned at age 13. After graduating from the University of Nashville in 1839, he passed the bar in 1842 and practiced law in Mississippi before becoming the editor of the "Columbus Democrat," a pro-slavery Mississippi newspaper. During the Mexican War, he enlisted in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment reaching the rank of captain and serving as a quartermaster and in the infantry. After the end of the war, he became political and quickly becoming known for his unwavering pro-slavery and state's rights political views. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1852. The same year, he successfully ran from the 3rd congressional district for a seat in the United States House of Representatives and would be re-elected for four terms serving March 4, 1853 to January 21, 1861, resigning shortly before the American Civil War began in April. Known for his fiery uncontrollable temper, he gave emotional speeches, had a brawl on the floor on the House of Representatives with a colleague who disagreed with him, had three near-duels, and was arrested for intoxication on at least one occasion. After resigning from Congress, he accepted a position with Mississippi Militia at the rank of colonel on May 1, 1861. At the time of the war, Mississippi had the largest enslaved population of any state. According to the 1860 Federal Census, he owned 36 slaves on a plantation. He saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run on May 21, 1861 and in the Harpers Ferry region during the Peninsula Campaign, which started in March of 1862. At Harpers Ferry Barksdale was a part of the fighting at Maryland Heights, sent there to protect the rear and block Union retreat. With respected leadership skills, he served the Confederacy and was mortally wounded on the second day at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, during the attack of Major-General James Longstreet's Corps on the Peach Orchard and Wheat Field. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery but has a cenotaph at Freindship Cemetery. He married Narcissa Saunders of Louisiana in 1849, and the couple had a daughter and a son, who died unmarried at age 21. His 2021 biography, "William Barksdale, CSA: A Biography of the United States Congressman and Confederate Brigadier General," by John Douglas Ashton, gives details of this colorful man's life.