William P. Wood

1820–1903 (age 83)

Biography

William P. Wood was a lawyer and soldier whose integrity led to his appointment as the first chief of the United States Secret Service in 1865, overseeing the protection of the nationÕs finances and the pursuit of lawbreakers in a turbulent Reconstruction-era capital.

He remained committed to public service until his passing and now lies at Congressional Cemetery, a testament to his enduring devotion to civic order.