William Perkins Black (November 11, 1842 - January 3, 1916) was a lawyer and veteran of the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862. As a lawyer, Black was best known for having serv
William Perkins Black (November 11, 1842 - January 3, 1916) was a lawyer and veteran of the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862. As a lawyer, Black was best known for having served as defense counsel to the people charged with inciting the Haymarket Riot of 1886. In the internationally publicized legal proceedings that followed, eight anarchists were convicted of conspiracy. The prosecution claimed one of the defendants had built the bomb, though none of those on trial had thrown it. Seven were sentenced to death and one to a term of 15 years in prison. The death sentences of two of the defendants were commuted by Illinois governor Richard J. Oglesby to terms of life in prison, and another committed suicide in jail rather than face the gallows. The other four were hanged on November 11, 1887. In 1893, Illinois' new governor John Altgeld pardoned the remaining defendants and criticized the trial. He died in 1916 at the age of 73.
Size: 2550px × 3808px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -, ., 1842, 1862, 1886, 1916, 19th, affair, american, attorney, black, bw, captain, century, civil, famous, figure, hay, hero, historic, historical, history, honor, important, infantry, lawyer, male, man, market, massacre, medal, men, military, notable, officer, people, perkins, person, personalities, personality, photo, photograph, portrait, recipient, riot, secession, soldier, states, united, usa, volunteer, war, william
