# William W. Boyce

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American politician and lawyer (1818–1890)

For other people named William Boyce, see [William Boyce (disambiguation)](/source/William_Boyce_(disambiguation)).

William W. Boyce Boyce, c. 1860 Member of the C.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district In office February 18, 1862 – March 18, 1865 Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished Member of the C.S. Congress from South Carolina In office February 8, 1861 – February 17, 1862 Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Position abolished Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district In office March 4, 1853 – December 21, 1860 Preceded by William Aiken Succeeded by Position abolished George Dargan (1883) Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives In office 1846–1847 Personal details Born William Waters Boyce (1818-10-24)October 24, 1818 Charleston, South Carolina, US Died February 3, 1890(1890-02-03) (aged 71) Fairfax County, Virginia, US Party Democratic Relations Ker Boyce (uncle) Occupation Politician, lawyer

**William Waters Boyce** (October 24, 1818 – February 3, 1890) was an American politician and lawyer. A [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he was a member of the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina), later a member of the [Provisional Congress of the Confederate States](/source/Provisional_Congress_of_the_Confederate_States) and the [Confederate States House of Representatives](/source/Confederate_States_Congress).

## Early life

Boyce was born on October 24, 1818, in [Charleston, South Carolina](/source/Charleston%2C_South_Carolina), the son of Robert Boyce and Lydia ([née](/source/N%C3%A9e) Waters) Boyce.[1] He was the nephew of industrialist [Ker Boyce](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ker_Boyce&action=edit&redlink=1).[2]

Boyce studied at the [University of South Carolina](/source/University_of_South_Carolina) and the [University of Virginia](/source/University_of_Virginia). He read law, and in 1839, was admitted to the bar, after which he began practicing law in [Winnsboro](/source/Winnsboro%2C_South_Carolina).[3] He owned slaves.[1][4] John D. Smart[2] (1842–1908), an [African American](/source/African_Americans) carpenter and builder of the Winnsboro clock tower,[5] said that Boyce was kind to his slaves.[2]

## Politics

Boyce was a Democrat. In 1846 and 1847, he was a member of the [North Carolina House of Representatives](/source/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives). He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing [South Carolina's 6th district](/source/South_Carolina's_6th_congressional_district). He served from March 4, 1853, to December 21, 1860, resigning due to [Southern secession](/source/Secession_in_the_United_States);[3] he originally opposed secession.[2] During the [35th Congress](/source/35th_United_States_Congress), he was chairman of the [Committee on Elections](/source/United_States_House_Committee_on_Elections).[3] Politically, he was [liberal](/source/Liberalism).[6]

At the onset of the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), Boyce volunteered to the [Confederate States Army](/source/Confederate_States_Army), though was selected for Confederate politics.[2] He was a delegate to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from South Carolina February 8, 1861, to February 17, 1862, and served as a member of the Confederate States House of Representatives, from February 17, 1862, to March 18, 1865.[3] While serving, he was a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs.[7]

Boyce opposed President [Jefferson Davis](/source/Jefferson_Davis).[7] In late 1864, he and other Confederate politicians authored a letter calling for Confederate surrender; the letter was received negatively for the most part. It is believed to have greatly contributed to the death of Confederate war morale.[2]

## Personal life and death

In 1866, Boyrce moved to [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), practicing law there.[3] He was married to Mary Elizabeth Pearson,[1] with whom he had two daughters.[2] He died on February 3, 1890, aged 71, at "Ashland", in [Fairfax County, Virginia](/source/Fairfax_County%2C_Virginia).[3] He was buried on February 6,[2] at St. John's Episcopal Cemetery, in Winnsboro.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) ["The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Bowmar to Boyce"](https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/bowne-boyce.html). *politicalgraveyard.com*. Retrieved May 27, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:1_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:1_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-:1_2-7) ["Funeral of W. W. Boyce"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/839809311/?match=1&terms=William%20W.%20Boyce). *The Fairfield News and Herald*. February 12, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved May 26, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:2_3-5) ["Boyce, William Waters"](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000713). *bioguide.congress.gov*. Retrieved May 27, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["More than 1,800 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/interactive/2022/congress-slaveowners-names-list/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. Retrieved May 27, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["MYSTERY PHOTO: Is it a church? – Statehouse Report"](https://www.statehousereport.com/2023/08/11/mystery-photo-is-it-a-church/). *www.statehousereport.com*. Retrieved May 27, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["BOYCE, William Waters (1818-1890)"](https://voteview.com/person/926/william-waters-boyce). *voteview.com*. Retrieved May 27, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_7-1) Escott, Paul D. (2006). *Military Necessity: Civil-Military Relations in the Confedeacy*. Greenwood Publishing. p. 19.

## External links

- Media related to [William Boyce (representative)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:William_Boyce_(representative)) at Wikimedia Commons

Offices and distinctions U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by William Aiken, Jr. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th congressional district 1853–1860 Succeeded by District abolished George W. Dargan (1883) Political offices Preceded by Position established Deputy in the C.S. Congress from South Carolina February 8, 1861 – February 17, 1862 Succeeded by Position abolished

Articles related to William Waters Boyce v t e Signatories of the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States President of the Congress Howell Cobb South Carolina Robert Barnwell Rhett R. W. Barnwell James Chesnut, Jr. C. G. Memminger Wm. Porcher Miles Laurence M. Keitt William W. Boyce Tho. J. Withers Georgia R. Toombs Francis S. Bartow Martin J. Crawford E. A. Nisbet Benjamin H. Hill Augustus R. Wright Thos. R. R. Cobb A. H. Kenan Alexander H. Stephens Florida Jackson Morton Jas. B. Owens J. Patton Anderson Alabama Richard W. Walker Robt. H. Smith Colin J. McRae Jno. Gill Shorter William Parish Chilton Stephen F. Hale David P. Lewis Tho. Fearn J. L. M. Curry Mississippi W. P. Harris Alexander M. Clayton W. S. Wilson James T. Harrison Walker Brooke William S. Barry J. A. P. Campbell Louisiana John Perkins, Jr. Alex. de Clouet C. M. Conrad Duncan F. Kenner Edward Sparrow Henry Marshall Texas Thomas N. Waul Williamson S. Oldham John Gregg John H. Reagan W. B. Ochiltree John Hemphill Louis T. Wigfall Category Commons v t e Signatories of the Confederate States Constitution President of the Congress Howell Cobb South Carolina Robert Barnwell Rhett C. G. Memminger Wm. Porcher Miles James Chesnut Jr. R. W. Barnwell William W. Boyce Laurence Keitt T. J. Withers Georgia R. Toombs Francis S. Bartow Martin J. Crawford Alexander H. Stephens Benjamin H. Hill Thos. R. R. Cobb E. A. Nisbet Augustus R. Wright A. H. Kenan Florida Jackson Morton J. Patton Anderson Jas. B. Owens Alabama Richard W. Walker Robt. H. Smith Colin J. McRae William P. Chilton Stephen F. Hale David P. Lewis Tho. Fearn Jno. Gill Shorter J. L. M. Curry Mississippi Alexander M. Clayton James T. Harrison William S. Barry W. S. Wilson Walker Brooke W. P. Harris J. A. P. Campbell Louisiana John Perkins Jr. Alex. de Clouet C. M. Conrad Duncan F. Kenner Henry Marshall Edward Sparrow Texas John Hemphill Thomas N. Waul John H. Reagan Williamson S. Oldham Louis T. Wigfall John Gregg William Beck Ochiltree Category Commons

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- [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [William W. Boyce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_W._Boyce) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_W._Boyce?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.