William Brickly Stokes spent a significant portion of his career in public service, beginning with legislative roles in Tennessee. He accumulated nearly a decade of experience in state politics, serving in both the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Tennessee Senate. Stokes transitioned to national politics, representing Tennessee's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. His military career included service in the Union Army, rising to the rank of colonel in the Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry and receiving an honorary promotion to brevet brigadier general. Post-military, Stokes pursued a legal career, studying law, passing the bar, and practicing in Alexandria, Tennessee.

William Brickly Stokes's political identity is marked by a distinctive blend of military service and fiscal conservatism. His tenure in the Union Army and subsequent honorary promotion to brevet brigadier general contrast with his later focus on internal revenue supervision, suggesting a calculated approach to public service. Stokes's legislative career, marked by shifts from the Opposition Party to the Republican Party, reveals an ideological adaptability. His agricultural background and legal practice further underscore a deeply rooted connection to regional economic interests, creating an intriguing tension between his military and civilian policy stances.