New Orleans, under JACKSON. After the close of the war he returned home and resumed his studies. Admitted to the bar in 1820. In 1827 married Miss Mary Ann BUGG. In 1835 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1836 he was made Major General of the Militia. He was Colonel of the Second Regiment of Mounted Volunteers in the Seminole War, in 1836. After the close of the war he declined to accept the appointment as Brigadier General in the Regular Army, tendered by President JACKSON. He was a Democratic elector in 1840. In 1847 he was appointed by President POLK, Colonel of the Fourteenth United States Infantry, and as such participated in the battles of Contreras, Cherebusco, Molina del Rey and Chepultepee, in the war with Mexico. In this last battle he commanded a brigade. He was twice wounded, but refused to leave the field. On August 23, 1848, he was made Brigadier General by brevet. In 1849 he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and served two terms. In May, 1853, President PIERCE appointed him Minister to Brazil, which office he held four years. Died in Gallatin, March 27, 1872, leaving many descendants. The most important event during his administration was the Southern Convention in Nashville in 1850. The convention's purpose was to discuss the issues of the slavery controversy resulting from the Wilmot Proviso, which excluded slavery in newly acquired territory. The Convention resulted in the Compromise of 1850.

SOURCE:  "The Trousdale Genealogy" by Karl Truesdell, 1952; Enlarged by Theodore McKee Trousdale, Jr., 1960.
    When six years old William Trousdale accompanied his father to what is now Sumner County, Tennessee.  William grew up surrounded by the scenes of pioneer life.  His early schooling was difficult.  First tutored by John Hall, he was then a pupil in 1813 of Dr. Gideon Blackburn.  When call was made for volunteers for the Creek War, William at once left school and enlisted as a private in Capt. Edward's company of mounted riflemen.  He was elected third lieutenant and took part in the battles of Talledega and Tallashatchee.  In the War of 1812 he enlisted in 1814 in Capt. Scurry's company, was present at the capture of Pensacola and was in the battle at New Orleans.  William Trousdale then returned home and resumed his studies under Hall and completed his education in 1816.  He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820.  He was elected to the State senate in 1835 and was appointed major general of militia in 1836.  In the Seminole War of that year he became colonel 2d Regt Mtd Vol Tenn.  Upon conclusion of hostilities he was offered appointment as brigadier general in the United States Army but declined saying "I value the compliment but decline the appointment as I desire no connection with the army except in times of war."  In 1837 General Trousdale was the Democratic candidate for Congress but could not overcome the Whig lead in his district.  In 1840 he was a Democratic elector.  In 1847 President Polk appointed William Trousdale colonel 14th US Inf.  He landed with his regiment at Vera Cruz on 13 Jun 1847 and took part in the battles of Conteras, Cherubusco, Molina del Rey and Chapultepec.  In this battle he commanded the brigade, was twice severely wounded but refused to leave the field.  On 23 Aug 1848 the President appointed him brigadier general by brevet for his gallantry at Chapultepec.  After the war with Mexico General Trousdale returned to civil life.  He was elected Governor of Tennessee for one term.  Defeated for reelection in 1852 he was appointed Minister to Brazil in 1853 by President Pierce.  Governor Trousdale remained in Brazil until 1857 when he returned to Gallatin and retired from public life.  Writing of his father, J. A. Trousdale said, "He would have attracted attention in any assembly of men, as well by his striking features as by his manly address.  He was six feet tall, erect, sparely made, muscular, and well formed.  A thick growth of black wavy hair covered a head of faultless shape.  His eyes were gray and deep seated and his nose was straight and thin.  His mouth, chin, and jaws were symmetrically formed, adding much in their expressive shape to the idea of strong character which the facial features all clearly indicated.  His face in repose wore an expression of deep earnestness tinged with sadness, but relieved of severity by an air of quiet satisfied composure.  He was entirely free from affectation in either look, speech, or act.  His bearing was civil, polite, and courtly".  Extracts from "American History Magazine", VII 1902 by B. F. Allen, a son-in-law; also see "History of Tennessee", Phelan 433; "History of Sumner Co., TN", Cisco.

Children of WILLIAM TROUSDALE and MARY BUGG are:
52. i. MARIA LOUISA⁴ TROUSDALE, b. February 10, 1828, Gallatin, TN; d. June 30, 1906, Gallatin, TN.
53. ii. CAROLINE VALERIA TROUSDALE, b. November 30, 1830, Gallatin, TN; d. October 18, 1860, Bean Station, TN.
iii. BELVERDERIA ADELAID TROUSDALE, b. 1833, Gallatin, TN; d. Infancy.
iv. OPHELIA ALICE TROUSDALE, b. 1835, Gallatin, TN; d. Infancy.
54. v. CHARLES WILLIAM TROUSDALE, b. July 22, 1839, Gallatin, TN; d. January 14, 1900, Gallatin, TN.
55. vi. JULIUS AUGUSTUS TROUSDALE, b. 1840, Gallatin, TN; d. September 1899.
56. vii. FRANCES ELIZABETH TROUSDALE, b. 1843, Gallatin, TN; d. 1914.