Marcus Winchester (1796-1856) devoted his life to transforming the small settlement on the fourth Chickasaw bluff into a thriving center of transportation, commerce, and industry that became Memphis. Sent there at Andrew Jackson's request while still barely out of his teens, Winchester went on to become the city's first real estate agent, mayor, store owner, banker, postmaster, and one-man chamber of commerce. His leadership helped establish Memphis as the westernmost outpost of American expansion along the Mississippi River and laid the foundation for its later emergence as one of the South's most important commercial cities. Townmania: Marcus Winchester and the Making of Memphis tells the forgotten story of the man who transformed a frontier settlement on a Mississippi River bluff into the thriving city of Memphis. This first full-length biography of Memphis's founding father explores ambition, race, politics, and identity in early Tennessee, uncovering a chapter of Southern history that shaped the nation.
This event is part of our TN Writers | TN Stories series. Readings and discussions take place in the Digital Learning Center at the Tennessee State Museum. All events include an opportunity to purchase books through the Museum store and get them signed by the author. If you show your Eventbrite ticket you will receive a 10% discount on your book purchase in the Museum Store.
About
Scott Williams is an author dedicated to uncovering forgotten stories in American history and culture. His books include biographies of Richard Halliburton, Odd McIntyre and David Crockett. In his latest, he explores early Memphis settler Marcus Winchester. Williams has led teams at the Newseum and Elvis Presley's Graceland and is now CEO of Discovery Park of America. He actively serves on several historical and tourism boards and committees across Tennessee.
Moderator Charles A. Sherrill (M.A., M.L.S.) retired as State Librarian and Archivist of Tennessee in 2022. He has been immersed in Tennessee history and genealogy for 40 years. An author and speaker on Tennessee research, he has been editor of the Middle Tennessee Journal of History and Genealogy since 2002 and currently serves as Vice President of the Tennessee Historical Society.
