William Hulsey

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William Henry Hulsey (October 1, 1838 – May 17, 1909) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician who served as the 18th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. Born in DeKalb County, Georgia, he passed the Georgia bar in 1859 but didn’t practice much before the Civil War.

When Georgia seceded from the Union, Hulsey enlisted in April 1861 as a private in the State Guards, which became Company F of the 6th Georgia Infantry. He left that unit in early 1862 and was elected major of the newly formed 42nd Georgia Infantry on March 20. He fought at Tazewell, Cumberland Gap, the Kentucky Campaign, and the Vicksburg Campaign, where his regiment surrendered to General Pemberton. After being exchanged, he returned to duty and commanded the 42nd Georgia at Missionary Ridge.

During the Atlanta campaign he fought from Dalton to Resaca in May 1864 and was wounded. After his recovery, he fought in the Battle of Atlanta in July and was promoted to lieutenant colonel, the rank he held for the rest of the war.

A Democrat, Hulsey served one term as Mayor of Atlanta and helped found the Atlanta Public School System. He also served two terms in the Georgia General Assembly representing Fulton County. He died on May 17, 1909, and was buried at Oakland Cemetery.