William Hayden English

William Hayden English (August 27, 1822 – February 7, 1896) was an American politician from Indiana.

William English was most famous for his role in the passage of the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution of Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1858. Working closely with Southern leaders, as well as the pro-slavery Buchanan administration, English made possible the passage of the constitution despite its enormous unpopularity in the North. The success of Lecompton caused a political firestorm that triggered the break-up of the Democratic Party, which, in turn, helped lead to Civil War.

Born in Lexington, Indiana in August 1822 to Democratic Party faithfuls from Kentucky, English attended Hanover College in southern Indiana, but did not graduate, instead receiving a general teaching certificate. His father was active in local politics, and early got his son involved. English studied some law, and was certified as both teacher and lawyer by his 19th birthday. By the end of 1842, young English came under the tutelage of the slave-owning Indiana Democratic boss Jesse D. Bright, which helped him win appointments to a variety of local offices. While serving in the Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. as Clerk of the Second Auditor, English met the Southern belle Emma "Mardy" Jackson, whom he married in November 1847.

In 1848, English supported pro-Southern Democrat Lewis Cass of Michigan for President, and, along with his mentor Jesse Bright, attended that year's Democratic national convention. In March 1850, English was selected to serve as clerk of the U.S. Senate Claims Committee, giving him an opportunity to gain political experience, make connections, and prove his abilities. The appointment also put English in a position to observe the forging of the pro-Southern Compromise of 1850, as well as the activities of one of its architects Jesse Bright, who was then in the US Senate. In August 1851, English won his first election and was elevated to state representative from Scott County. In the Indiana legislature, he gained notoriety and grew even closer to Bright and the pro-slavery wing of Indiana Democrats.

In 1851 to 1852, English worked for the pro-Southern Douglas-Hunter presidential ticket (which did not receive the Democratic nomination), but also, to keep his boss Bright happy, supported the renewed candidacy of Lewis Cass. In August 1852, 29 year old English beat out several older politicians for the US House nomination for the new Indiana 2nd District, which has notoriously pro-slavery. In October, he was elected, essentially riding on the coattails of the enormously popular gubernatorial candidate Democrat Joseph A. Wright. English also benefited from the fact that the anti-slavery vote that year was divided between Whigs and Free-Soilers.

In December 1853, English, ever learning to cater to Southern demands, supported Lynn Boyd of Kentucky, for Speaker of the House, a decision for which he would reap political benefits, including a coveted spot on the Committee on Territories.

He moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at the end of his congressional term. In 1880, he was the unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States on the Democratic ticket in the U.S. presidential election, 1880 running with Winfield Scott Hancock and only losing by 1,898 popular votes and 54 electoral votes: 214 to 155.

English was the author of several books; died at his home in Indianapolis on February 7, 1896 and is interred in Crown Hill Cemetery. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and an organizational marker was added to his grave in 2007. English, Indiana, the county seat of Crawford County, is named after him. Identical statues of English stand in front of the Scott County Courthouse in Scottsburg, Indiana and at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in English. A bust of English in the Indiana Statehouse commemorates his service 1851–1852 as Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives.

His son William Eastin English was also a congressman. His grandson was the noted socialist William English Walling.