Judge William L. SHARKEY, twenty third Governor of Mississippi, was born in Sumner County in 1797. When 6 years of age he was taken by his parents to Warren County, Mississippi, where he grew to manhood. He received his education at Greeneville, and in law at Lebanon, Tennessee. In 1822 he was admitted to the bar at Natchez, and in 1825 removed to Vicksburg. He served one term in the Legislature. In 1832 he was elected Chief Justice of the Court of Errors and Appeals, and held that position for eighteen years, then resigned and resumed the practice of law at Jackson. He was the President of the Southern States Convention, which met at Nashville in June, 1850. In 1851 he declined both the Consulship at Havana and Secretary of War under President FILLMORE. He was one of the Commissioners to frame the Mississippi Code in 1857. In 1863 he was appointed by Gov. CLARK a Commissioner with William YEAGER to go to Washington to confer with President JOHNSON in behalf of his State. Mr. JOHNSON appointed him Provisional Governor on June 29, 1865; served until October, when the military assumed charge of the State. He died at Washington City, April 29, 1873.
     Judge SHARKEY was not a man of liberal education, and when he was elevated to the Supreme bench he was not well learned in the law. But his intellect was vigorous, and his sagacity almost unerring. His conclusions, as well of law, as of fact, were generally correct, and he extracted the true principle from the most discordant and irreconcilable authorities. As presiding Judge he was affable and patient. The most prosy speaker was assured of an attentive hearing, and his manner was such as to seldom give offense. He presided in the court for nearly twenty years, and at last resigned a place which seemed to be his by right. In political life was timid, wavering, inconsistent and wholly unreliable.
     Judge SHARKEY married Miss Minerva CAGE, of Sumner County.