William C. Somerville

William Clarke Somerville[1] (March 25, 1790 – January 5, 1826) was an author, historian, diplomat, American plantation owner and militia officer in the War of 1812.

At different times in his life he owned: Mulberry Fields, which he inherited from his father; Sotterley, which he won from his brother in law in a dice game; and Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee.

[6] Following the war Somerville made an extended tour of Europe, and established several friendships with political, military and society figures that he maintained until the end of his life.

[7] As a result of his time in France, he penned a history, entitled Letters from Paris, on the Causes and Consequences of the French Revolution which was first published in Baltimore in 1822.

[8] To capitalize on Somerville's contacts, in 1825 President John Quincy Adams appointed him to be Minister to Sweden[9] and directed him to carry out a diplomatic assignment in Greece before proceeding to Stockholm.