William G. Brownlow

thumb|William G. Brownlow in 1856 William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow (August 29, 1805 – April 29, 1877) was an American newspaper publisher, Methodist minister, book author, prisoner of war, lecturer, and politician. He served as Governor of Tennessee from 1865 to 1869 and as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1869 to 1875. Brownlow rose to prominence in the late 1830s and early 1840s as editor of the Whig, a polemical newspaper in East Tennessee that promoted Whig Party ideals and opposed secession in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Brownlow's uncompromising and radical viewpoints made him one of the most divisive figures in Tennessee political history and one of the most controversial Reconstruction Era politicians of the United States. Quotes Jonesboro Whig (1840 to 1949) If hell were raked with a fine tooth comb it is exceedingly doubtful whether any such material could be found there as inhabit this village; and should the devil seek a substitute for hell Jonesboro would qualify. Whig. 1847:12:03, 1845:1845:09:03. Reprinted in That D----d Brownlow by Steve Humphrey. Appalachian Consortium Press, 1978. Boone, North Carolina. Quoted in The Jeffersonian (1861) We intend to fight the secessionists until hell freezes over, and then fight them on ice, Or any other man. The Jeffersonian newspaper of Stroudsburg, Pa., August 15, 1861. Appeared in a sidebar article prefaced by: Parson Brownlow recently declared in relation to the Union men of East Tennessee:... NOTE: It is unclear from the context whether "Any other man" is part of Brownlow's quote or an editorial comment by The Jeffersonian writer. External links Category:Members of the United States Senate Category:Governors of Tennessee Category:Publishers from the United States Category:Journalists from Virginia Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians Category:Clergy Category:1805 births Category:1877 deaths