William P. Richardson

Who was William P. Richardson?

William Pitt Richardson was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio, USA. He was Ohio Attorney General in 1865.

Richardson was born on May 25, 1824, at Washington County, Pennsylvania. He entered Washington College in 1841, and graduated in 1844. He was then a teacher, and remained so after moving to Ohio. He enlisted as a private in the Third Ohio Infantry in 1846, and served in the Mexican-American War. In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Monroe County, Ohio, and held that office until 1861. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a Major in the 25th Ohio Infantry, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel. On May 2, 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was wounded and lost use of his right arm.

In 1864, he was elected Ohio Attorney General, but resigned after less than a year, replaced by Chauncey N. Olds of Franklin County being appointed by Governor Brough. He was Brevetted Brigadier General in December, 1864. The same year, he was named commander of the military prison at Camp Chase in Columbus, and was later Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifteenth district. He died at New Castle, Indiana August 4, 1886, and was interred at Oak Grove Cemetery in Marietta, Ohio.