Francis Harrison Pierpont
American politician
Died when: 85 years 58 days (1021 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
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Francis Harrison Pierpont (January 25, 1814 – March 24, 1899), called the "Father of West Virginia," was an American lawyer and politician who achieved prominence during the American Civil War.
During the conflict's first two years, Pierpont served as Governor of the Restored Government of Virginia and in this capacity administered the part of Virginia then under Unionist control (i.e. future West Virginia) prior to West Virginia's admission to the Union as a separate state.
After recognizing the creation of West Virginia, Pierpont continued to serve as Governor of the Restored Government, although for the remainder of the war the degree of civil authority he was able to exercise was extremely limited.
Having claimed to be the legitimate Governor of Virginia for the duration of the conflict, Pierpont assumed civil control of the state's entire post-1863 territory following the dissolution of the Confederacy and continued to serve as Governor during the early years of Reconstruction.
In recognition of his significance to its state history, in 1910 the state of West Virginia donated a marble statue of Pierpont as the second of its two contributions to the U.S.
Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection.
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