Washington C. Whitthorne

Washington C. Whitthorne

Washington Curran Whitthorne (born April 19, 1825 in Farmington , Marshall County , Tennessee , †  September 21, 1891 in Columbia , Tennessee) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Tennessee in both chambers of Congress .

After visiting the Campbell Academy , a private school in Lebanon , Whitthorne started college at East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee ) and graduated there in 1843. Graduating in Law followed in 1845 admission to the Bar Association. As a result, he was initially employed by the government of Tennessee before he opened his own law firm in Columbia.

His political career began with membership of the Tennessee Senate from 1855 to 1858. From 1859 to 1861 he belonged to the property of the Speakers of the Tennessee House of Representatives on. After the outbreak of the American Civil War , Whitthorne became Adjutant General of Tennessee in 1861 , the highest military commander of his state. He retained this position until 1865.

After the southern defeat in the Civil War, Whittorne's full civil rights were not restored by Congress until 1870. In the same year he applied for a seat in the US House of Representatives for the first time and was successful. He was re-elected five times and was a member of the Naval Committee from 1875 to 1881.

After the resignation of Senator Howell Edmunds Jackson , Washington C. Whitthorne was appointed by Governor William B. Bate to succeed him in the Senate. The Senate confirmed him for the remainder of the term of office, so that it lasted from April 16, 1886 to March 3, 1887. As a result he returned to the House of Representatives, to which he belonged again from 1887 to 1891.

After leaving Congress Whitthorne moved back to Columbia, where he died that same year. The Whitthorne Middle School was named after him there.

Web links

• Washington C. Whitthorne in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)