William Mudd

William Mudd in 1887

William Swearingen Mudd (born December 2, 1816 in Jefferson County, Kentucky - died September 2, 1884 in Birmingham) was a lawyer, a legislator, and a circuit judge. He was a shareholder in the Elyton Land Company. His late-life residence, Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens, is a local tourist attraction.

Mudd was born near Louisville in Kentucky to James and Sarah (Swearingen) Mudd, and was educated at St. Joseph's College in Bardstown, Kentucky. In 1831 he moved to Alabama and settled at Elyton. He began practicing law in 1839. From 1843 to 1848 he was a member of the Alabama legislature. Later, he was elected as circuit judge and held that position from 1856 until 1883 when health problems forced his retirement. Among Judge Mudd's business ventures were the building of Birmingham's first hotel, operation of the Oxmoor Furnace, and was involved in the establishment of Citizen's Bank, which later merged with the First National Bank of Birmingham. He was a stockholder of the Elyton Land Company from 1871 to 1884 and was director of that enterprise at the time of his death.

He was married to Florence Jane Earle, daughter of Samuel Earle, on December 22, 1841. They had six daughters, and four sons. Mudd named the Florence Hotel in her memory.

Mudd is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery.

External links

• "BPL Founders of Birmingham, Alabama"
• William S. Mudd at Oak Hill Cemetery