Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Medill, William

MEDILL, William, governor of Ohio, b. in New Castle county, Del., in 1805; d. in Lancaster, Ohio, 2 Sept., 1865; He studied law, and in 1832 was admitted to the bar of Lancaster, Ohio, to which state he had previously removed. He was soon afterward elected to the legislature, served several years, was twice speaker, and in 1838 was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving till 1843. He was first assistant postmaster in 1845-'49, then became commissioner of Indian affairs, and in 1850 was chairman of the Ohio constitutional convention. He was lieutenant-governor of the state in 1851-'53, and governor 1853-'56. During Buchanan's administration he was first comptroller of the U.S. treasury.