Chester Ashley

Chester Ashley

Chester Ashley (born June 1, 1790 in Amherst , Massachusetts , † April 29, 1848 in Washington DC ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Arkansas in the US Senate .

Massachusetts-born Chester Ashley was just a child when his parents moved him to New York State , where the family settled in Hudson . But he returned to study in his home state and graduated from Williams College in Williamstown . Thereafter, it was found in Litchfield ( Connecticut formed) the advocate; he completed his law studies in Illinois and Missouri . In 1820 he moved to Little Rock , where he quickly rose to become one of the most famous lawyers in the Arkansas Territory ; at times he worked in a practice with the later governor of the territory , Robert Crittenden . Together they founded Rose Law Firm , which still exists today and is the third oldest law firm in the United States.

Ashley's fame as a lawyer and his growing affluence led him to go into politics. In the presidential election in 1844 he led the campaign for James K. Polk in Arkansas, who was then elected as the new president against the Whig candidate Henry Clay . In the same year he was appointed by the Arkansas State Legislature to succeed the late US Senator William S. Fulton . He took up his mandate from November 8, 1844 and was confirmed in office in 1846. As a result, he was among other things in front of the Justice Committee of the Senate . He died in Washington just two years later.

The Ashley County , Arkansas is named for Chester Ashley.

Web links

• Chester Ashley in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Chester Ashley in the database of Find a Grave (English)