Description: (Former United States Senator from Virginia (1881 - 1887))
William Mahone was a General in the Confederate States Army, as well as a civil engineer and railroad executive. He was a key figure in the development of Virginia's transportation infrastructure, particularly as the chief engineer of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. During the American Civil War, Mahone served as a general and is remembered for his role in reclaiming the initiative during the siege of Petersburg. Post-war, he focused on railroad construction and was pivotal in establishing the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad. Mahone also led the Readjuster Party and successfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1881.