Governor of Mississippi Territory. He received a liberal private education, studied law, and became an attorney. In 1796 he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the US House of Representatives and served three terms, 1797 to 1803. In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson appointed Williams to the federal commission empowered to determine the legitimacy of land claims in the recently acquired Mississippi Territory. In May, 1805 Jefferson appointed him Governor, and he served until the end of Jefferson's term in March, 1809. During his term Williams became unpopular as the result of a dispute with territorial Secretary Cowles Mead, with each accusing the other of having been sympathetic to Aaron Burr's alleged conspiracy. After leaving office, Williams lived in Mississippi and North Carolina and operated plantations, also serving during the War of 1812 as North Carolina's Adjutant General. After the 1814 death of his wife in Washington, Mississippi, Williams moved to a Louisiana plantation called Bon Aire, which he operated until his death. Robert Williams' brother, Marmaduke Williams, also served in the U.S. Representative from North Carolina, 1803-09 (9th District 1803-05, at-large 1805-07, 9th District 1807-09), following his older brother Robert, who had served from the same district 1797 to 1803. His cousin Lewis Williams served as a Congressman from North Carolina, and his cousin John Williams served in the US Senate from Tennessee. He is sometimes confused with their brother, his cousin, also named Robert Williams, who was born in 1773 in Surry Co, NC, and was active in North Carolina politics and government at the same time.
Governor of Mississippi Territory. He received a liberal private education, studied law, and became an attorney. In 1796 he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the US House of Representatives and served three terms, 1797 to 1803. In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson appointed Williams to the federal commission empowered to determine the legitimacy of land claims in the recently acquired Mississippi Territory. In May, 1805 Jefferson appointed him Governor, and he served until the end of Jefferson's term in March, 1809. During his term Williams became unpopular as the result of a dispute with territorial Secretary Cowles Mead, with each accusing the other of having been sympathetic to Aaron Burr's alleged conspiracy. After leaving office, Williams lived in Mississippi and North Carolina and operated plantations, also serving during the War of 1812 as North Carolina's Adjutant General. After the 1814 death of his wife in Washington, Mississippi, Williams moved to a Louisiana plantation called Bon Aire, which he operated until his death. Robert Williams' brother, Marmaduke Williams, also served in the U.S. Representative from North Carolina, 1803-09 (9th District 1803-05, at-large 1805-07, 9th District 1807-09), following his older brother Robert, who had served from the same district 1797 to 1803. His cousin Lewis Williams served as a Congressman from North Carolina, and his cousin John Williams served in the US Senate from Tennessee. He is sometimes confused with their brother, his cousin, also named Robert Williams, who was born in 1773 in Surry Co, NC, and was active in North Carolina politics and government at the same time.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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