1

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Sam H. Anderson, Jr.

   2



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Dennis C. Bottorff

   3



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr.

   4



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Reginald D. Dickson

   5



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ James A. Haslam II

   6



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Martha R. Ingram

   7



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ T. Scott Fillebrown, Jr.

   8



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Walter G. Knestrick

   9



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Gene C. Koonce

   10



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ James R. Martin

   11



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Roscoe R. Robinson

   12



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ James F. Smith, Jr.

   13



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Cal Turner, Jr.

   14



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Celia A. Wallace

   15



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Ted H. Welch

   16



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ David K. Wilson

   17



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ William S. Wire II

   18



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or
officer of First American Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Tennessee ("Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints MARY NEIL
PRICE and MARTIN E. SIMMONS and each of them (with full power of each of them to
act alone), his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for him/her and
on his/her behalf and in his/her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign, execute and file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority, one or more
Registration Statements on Form S-4, S-8 or such other appropriate form (as any
of such attorneys may determine) and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) thereto, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, relating to the registration of shares of the
Company's common stock in connection with the Company's acquisition of
Hartsville Bancshares, Inc. ("HBI") or in connection with an option to purchase
the Company's common stock by Joseph H. Crabtree, Sr., a principal of HBI,
granting unto said attorneys and each of them full power and authority to do and
to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she
himself/herself might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director and/or officer has
hereunto set his/her hand as of the date specified.



Dated: October 17, 1996                    /s/ Toby S. Wilt