Wilson Reilly

Wilson Reilly (born August 8, 1811 in Waynesboro , Franklin County , Pennsylvania , †  August 26, 1885 in Chambersburg , Pennsylvania) was an American politician . Between 1857 and 1859 he represented the state of Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Wilson Reilly attended public schools in his home country and then worked as a hatter in Waynesboro and Chambersburg. After studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1837, he began to work in this profession in Chambersburg. Between 1842 and 1845 he served as the prosecutor in Franklin County. At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Democratic Party . In 1854 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress .

In the congressional elections of 1856 Reilly was then elected in the 17th  constituency of Pennsylvania to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC , where he succeeded David Fullerton Robison on March 4, 1857 . Since he was not confirmed in 1858, he could only complete one term in Congress until March 3, 1859. This was shaped by the events leading up to the civil war . During his time as a Congressman, Reilly chaired the War Department's Expenditure Control Committee.

After his time in the US House of Representatives, Wilson Reilly practiced as a lawyer again. He also became captain of the McClure Rifles , which belonged to the reserve force of the state of Pennsylvania. He died in Chambersburg on August 26, 1885.

Web links

• Wilson Reilly in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Wilson Reilly in the database of Find a Grave (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
David Fullerton Robison	United States House Representative for Pennsylvania (17th constituency) March 4, 1857 - March 3, 1859	Edward McPherson