William H. Wallace

William H. Wallace
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho Territory's at-large district
In office February 1, 1864 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Edward Dexter Holbrook
1st Governor of Idaho Territory
In office March 10, 1863 – February 1, 1864
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Caleb Lyon
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington Territory's at-large district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	Isaac Stevens
Succeeded by	George E. Cole
4th Governor of Washington Territory
In office April 9, 1861 – 1861
Preceded by	Richard D. Gholson
Succeeded by	William Pickering
Personal details
Born	William Henson Wallace (1811-07-19)July 19, 1811 Troy, Ohio
Died	February 7, 1879(1879-02-07) (aged 67) Steilacoom, Washington Territory
Political party	Republican
Residence	Tacoma
Profession	Attorney

William Henson Wallace (July 19, 1811 – February 7, 1879) was an important figure in the early histories of two U.S. states, serving as governor and Congressional delegate from both Washington Territory and Idaho Territory.

Wallace was born July 19, 1811, near Troy, Ohio. He attended in the common schools of Indiana, studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing law. He married Luzanne Brazelton and had three children, two girls who died in infancy and one son.^[1] Wallace's older brother David Wallace served as a Whig Governor of Indiana from 1837 to 1840. Wallace's nephew was Lew Wallace, a Civil War Union general and the author of Ben-Hur.

After being admitted to the bar, Wallace moved to the Iowa District of Wisconsin Territory in 1837. He was elected to the Iowa Territorial Legislature as a Whig after Iowa Territory was organized the following year.^[2] Despite a Democratic majority in the body, Wallace secured eleven of twenty votes for the speakership.^[3] Wallace was appointed colonel of state troops and receiver of public money at Fairfield. Wallace ran an unsuccessful campaign for delegate from Iowa Territory in 1843. In 1848, he was a candidate for United States Senate from the new State of Iowa, but the Iowa Legislature instead selected Democrats George Wallace Jones and Augustus C. Dodge. Wallace moved to Washington Territory in 1853. Sometime during the early 1850s, he befriended Abraham Lincoln and they remained good friends until Lincoln's death.^[4]

In 1861, Wallace was appointed governor of Washington Territory by President Lincoln, but was also elected the territory's delegate to the United States House of Representatives and never took office as governor. He was the first Republican chosen for those roles in Washington Territory. Wallace served a single term representing Washington Territory in the House. During his term, he got Congress to establish Idaho as a territory. Shortly after his term expired in March 1863, Lincoln appointed Wallace governor of the new Idaho Territory and he took office July 10, 1863.^[4]

Wallace designated Lewiston as the territory's capital and arrived there in July. Later that year, Wallace was elected as the delegate from Idaho Territory and again vacated his gubernatorial appointment to serve in the House.^[5]

Wallace is reported to have been one of several people who turned down an invitation from Lincoln to accompany him to Ford's Theatre on the night Lincoln was assassinated.^[6]

After his term expired in March 1865, Wallace returned to Washington Territory where he served as a probate judge in Pierce County until his death in 1879. Wallace is buried in Fort Steilacoom Cemetery, Steilacoom, Pierce County, Washington, United States.

• United States Congress. "William H. Wallace (id: W000086)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Meany, Edmond S (1915). Governors of Washington: Territorial and State. University of Washington. Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection
• Defenbach, Byron (1933). The State We Live In: Idaho. The Caxton Printers Ltd.
• William Henson Wallace entry at The Political Graveyard
• William H. Wallace at Find a Grave
• The Mossback Tripod
• Idaho State Historical Society