Kinloch Falconer

Falconer was born on October 28, 1838.^[2] He was the son of Colonel Thomas A. Falconer.^[3] He had a brother, Howard, who later became a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.^[3] He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1860 and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.^[3][4] After graduating, he worked at his father's newspaper, the Southern Herald, in Holly Springs.^[3]

During the American Civil War, he enlisted in the 9th Mississippi Infantry Regiment on March 27, 1861, as a private.^[2][3] He was transferred to a clerk position, then was promoted to the rank of major. By the time he retired from the military, he was Assistant Adjutant General of Tennessee.^[1]

Following the war, Falconer and his brother Howard set up a law practice in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the town in which they resided.^[5] His home was known as White Pillars and a postcard was made of it. The University of Mississippi Libraries have a collection of his papers.^[6]

On November 6, 1877, Falconer was elected as a Democrat to the position of Secretary of State of Mississippi.^[7][8] He assumed the position on January 1, 1878.^[9][10] During the Lower Mississippi Valley yellow fever epidemic of 1878, Falconer returned to Holly Springs to nurse his father and brother.^[7][5] He then buried them after they died of the fever.^[5] Soon after, Falconer died there, on September 23, 1878, aged 39, also of yellow fever.^{[7][5][2][11]}