Richard Hanson Weightman

Richard Hanson Weightman.

Richard Hanson Weightman (born December 28, 1816 in Washington DC , † June 20, 1861 at Wilson's Creek , Missouri ) was an American politician . Between 1851 and 1853 he represented the New Mexico Territory as a delegate in the US House of Representatives .

Early years

Richard Weightman visited Washington and Alexandria ( Virginia private schools). He then studied until 1834 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville . Between 1835 and 1837 he was at the US Military Academy in West Point , but without graduating there. Weightman studied law until 1841. Later he did not work as a lawyer. After moving to Missouri, he became a captain in a light cavalry unit during the Mexican-American War in 1846 . From 1848 to 1849 he was paymaster in the US Army .

Political rise

In 1851 Richard Weightman moved to the New Mexico Territory, where he published a newspaper in Santa Fe . He was also appointed Indian Commissioner. Politically, Weightman became a member of the Democratic Party . As their candidate, he was elected the first delegate of that territory to the US House of Representatives. There he completed a legislative period between March 4, 1851 and March 3, 1853. In 1852 he decided not to run again.

Another résumé

After his time in the federal capital Washington, Weightman returned to the newspaper business. After moving a few times, he settled in Independence , Missouri. When the civil war broke out , Richard Weightman joined the Confederate States , in whose army he was made a colonel. He was fatally wounded during the Battle of Wilson's Creek in June 1861.

Web links

• Richard Hanson Weightman in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Richard Hanson Weightman in the database of Find a Grave (English)