William Joseph Simmons

Activist

Birthday May 6, 1880

Birth Sign Taurus

Birthplace Harpersville, AL

DEATH DATE May 18, 1945 (65)

#93475 Most Popular

About

Inspired by the seminal film The Birth of a Nation, he revived the fledgling Ku Klux Klan group and led it to prominence.

Before Fame

He was convalescing after a car accident when he saw The Birth of a Nation and decided to rebuild the Klan.

Trivia

As the Klan grew more violent, he was called to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Family Life

His father was a physician, so he studied medicine for a short time.

Associated With

D.W. Griffith directed The Birth of a Nation, which depicted the burning cross symbol that his Klan used.