YANCEY, William Lowndes: American political leader and orator: b. Ogeechee Shoals. Ga., 10 Aug. 1814; d. 27 July 1863. He was the sun of Benjamin Cudworth Yancey., a political leader of the South, who died at the age of 36. His stepfather was Rev. Nathau &mien of New York. Yancey studied at Wil liams College, but lack of funds arrested his course there before he was graduated. He en tered the law office of B. F. Perry at Green ville, S. C., was admitted to the bar in 1834. and began to publish the Greenville MOW, fainter, which was opposed to nullification, and supported the Union. In 1835 he married Miss Earle of Greenville, who was possessed of a considerable fortune in negro slaves. Yancey resolved then to abandon law and undertake cotton planting at Catawba, Ala. However, a local feud resulted in the poisoning of the Yancey wells and the consequent death of the slaves, and he was forced to abandon the plan tation. He re-entered his profession, resumed his journalistic efforts, and became a commis sioner in bankruptcy. At ‘Vetumplca, near Har rowgate Spring, Yancey owned and edited a weekly newspaper, and established a flourishing law practice. He sat in the Alabama legislature, and was active in reform measures (1841--44). After a vigorous campaign he was elected to Congress for the term 1844-46. After a duel with Representative Clingman of North Caro lina, Yancey resigned from service in Congress, disappointed in that body. He moved to Mont gomery, Ala., where he entered the firm of Elmore and Yancey, and soon recuperated his lost fortune. He now began a career of un official political leadership, peculiar to himself.
At the National Democratic Convention at Balti more Yancy led the movement which resulted in the adoption of the 'Alabama Platform.' This instructed the delegates not to vote for any candidate opposed to government protection of slavery. In spite of this organized effort, Gen eral Cass, the nominee of the Baltimore con vention, received the electoral vote of Alabama.
When the question of secesion was under consideration in 1851, Yancey favored with drawal from the Union. When the State re fused to summon the legislature to submit the question of convention to the people, he sum moned a non-partisan mass State convention which sent representatives independently to the Democratic convention at Cincinnati. Yancey now became the controlling force in the radical politics of the State. Ile also made a canvass of the North, speaking eloquently in favor of secession and slave owners' rights, after the meetings of the Charleston Democratic Conven tion. The election of Lincoln was partly due to the split in the Democratic party which Yancey led. After the secession he was sent by the Confederacy to secure the recognition of the various European governments His efforts at London and Paris were unsuccessful and he returned in 1862, when he was elected senator of the legislature of Alabama. He served in the Confederate Senate until his death Consult Ili Bose. I. \\-.. 'Lite and Times of William Lowndes (Birmingham 1892).