William I. Adair

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William Irvin Adair
Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office
1823–1823
Preceded byArthur P. Bagby
Succeeded bySamuel Walker
Judge of the Alabama Circuit Court
In office
November 1832 – December 9, 1835
Personal details
Bornc. 1796
Kentucky, U.S.
DiedDecember 9, 1835
Madison County, Alabama, U.S.

William Irvin Adair (c. 1796 – December 9, 1835), was an American lawyer and judge who served as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives during the 1823 session. A representative from Madison County, he was again elected to public office as a judge of the Alabama circuit court in November 1832 and served until his death in 1835.[1][2][3]

Biography

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Adair was born in Kentucky, the son of William and Mary (Irvin) Adair and a nephew of Kentucky governor John Adair. He served as a captain during the War of 1812, moved to Alabama in 1818, read law, and practiced at Huntsville. He represented Madison County in the Alabama House in 1822 and 1823.[4][5][6]

At the organizational meeting of the fifth General Assembly on November 17, 1823, the House elected Adair Speaker.[7] The following year, the sixth General Assembly chose Samuel Walker of Madison County as Speaker.[8]

Adair was elected to the state circuit bench in November 1832 and held that office until his death on December 9, 1835, in Madison County.[9][10] Additional contemporary notices appear in Willis Brewer's compendium of Alabama public officials.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Owen, Thomas McAdory; Marie Bankhead Owen (1921). History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Vol. 3. Chicago: S. J. Clarke. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  2. ^ "William Irvin Adair". Huntsville History Collection. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  3. ^ "Journal of the Alabama House of Representatives, November–December 1823 (transcript)" (PDF). Internet Archive via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved October 30, 2025. From the county of Madison—William I. Adair (Speaker)… The House then proceeded to the election of a Speaker… William I. Adair… was duly elected.
  4. ^ Owen, Thomas McAdory; Marie Bankhead Owen (1921). History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Vol. 3. Chicago: S. J. Clarke. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  5. ^ "Journal of the Alabama House of Representatives, Nov. 1822–Jan. 1823 (transcript)" (PDF). Internet Archive via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved October 30, 2025. The House then proceeded to the choice of Speaker… Arthur P. Bagby… was duly elected Speaker. (Member list includes "Wm. J. [I.] Adair," Madison.)
  6. ^ "William Irvin Adair". Huntsville History Collection. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  7. ^ "Journal of the Alabama House of Representatives, November–December 1823 (transcript)" (PDF). Internet Archive via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  8. ^ "Journal of the Alabama House of Representatives, November–December 1824 (transcript)" (PDF). Internet Archive via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  9. ^ Owen, Thomas McAdory; Marie Bankhead Owen (1921). History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. Vol. 3. Chicago: S. J. Clarke. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  10. ^ "William Irvin Adair". Huntsville History Collection. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  11. ^ Brewer, Willis (1872). Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men, from 1540 to 1872 (PDF). Montgomery: Barrett & Brown. Retrieved October 30, 2025.


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