William Lucas (politician)

William Lucas

William Lucas (born November 30, 1800 in Shepherdstown , Jefferson County , Virginia , †  August 29, 1877 in Jefferson County, West Virginia ) was an American politician . Between 1839 and 1845 he represented the state of Virginia in the US House of Representatives twice .

Career

Born in what is now West Virginia, William Lucas was the younger brother of Congressman Edward Lucas (1780-1858). He attended the public schools in his home country. After a subsequent law degree at the Tucker Law School in Winchester and his license to practice as a lawyer in 1825, he began to work in Shepherdstown in this profession. In 1830 he moved his residence and law firm to Charles Town . In his new home he was also active in agriculture and mainly in horticulture. At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Democratic Party . He served in the Virginia House of Representatives in 1838 and 1839 .

In the 1838 congressional election , Lucas was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the 15th  constituency of Virginia , where he took up his new mandate on March 4, 1839. Since he was not confirmed in 1840, he was initially only able to complete one legislative period in Congress until March 3, 1841 . In the elections of 1842 , Lucas was re-elected to Congress in the tenth district of his state, where he replaced John Taliaferro on March 4, 1843 . Until March 3, 1845 he was able to spend another term in Congress. This period was marked by tension between President John Tyler and the Whigs . In addition, a possible annexation of the Republic of Texas , which has been independent of Mexico since 1836, was already being discussed.

In 1844, William Lucas was no longer nominated for re-election. After the end of his time in the US House of Representatives, he practiced again as a lawyer and engaged in horticulture. In 1850 and 1851 he was a delegate to a meeting to revise the Virginia Constitution. He died on August 29, 1877 on his Rion Hall estate in Jefferson County.

Web links

• William Lucas in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• William Lucas in the database of Find a Grave (English)