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Carolina Story: Virtual Museum of University History

William Waightstill Avery (1816-1864) and Avery Residence Hall

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Avery Residence Hall, completed in 1958, was named for William Waightstill Avery, who graduated first in his class in 1837. He became a lawyer and served in both the State House of Commons and the State Senate, of which he was speaker in 1856-57. He was a member of the board of trustees from 1850 until his death. In 1861 he served as Confederate Senator from North Carolina. In 1864, he was killed by a group of Union sympathizers from Tennessee.