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Biography
William H. McCardle (June 1, 1815 - April 28, 1893) was a writer and editor. In 1866, he was arrested by military authorities under the Reconstruction Act and appealed to the United States Supreme Court in Ex parte McCardle, but the U.S. Congress removed the court's jurisdiction. He was accused of disturbing the peace, inciting insurrection, libel, and impeding Reconstruction for publishing articles denouncing Reconstruction policies and its military commanders. He co-authored a history of Mississippi. He edited the Vicksburg Times newspaper in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Smithsonian has a miniature watercolor on ivory depiction of him.
McCardle was never tried, due to the charges against him later being dropped. Nevertheless, he was forced to spend three years in prison, not being released until 1869.
He married Annie E. Fort and had three children: Annie F., Battle, and Mary W. He co-authored A History of Mississippi with former Mississippi governor Robert Lowry.
