Washington C. Whitthorne

Washington Curran Whitthorne
United States Senator
from Tennessee
In office
April 16, 1886 – March 4, 1887
Preceded by Howell E. Jackson
Succeeded by William B. Bate
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1883
Preceded by John Atkins
Succeeded by John G. Ballentine
In office
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by John Ballentine
Succeeded by Nicholas N. Cox
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by Samuel M. Arnell
Succeeded by John F. House
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1859-1861
Member of the Tennessee Senate
In office
1855-1858
Personal details
Born (1825-04-19)April 19, 1825
Marshall County, Tennessee
Died September 21, 1891(1891-09-21) (aged 66)
Columbia, Tennessee
Political party Democratic
Military service
Allegiance  Confederate States of America
Service/branch  Confederate States Army
Rank Adjutant General

Washington Curran Whitthorne (April 19, 1825 – September 21, 1891) was a Tennessee attorney, Democratic politician, and an Adjutant General in the Confederate Army.

Early life and career

Whitthorne was born near Petersburg, Tennessee in Marshall County.[1] One day when Whitthorne was young James K. Polk stayed at his family's home.[2] Polk saw how bright he was and asked, "What are you going to make of this boy?" His father replied "I am going to make him the President of the United States."[2] Polk then told them to send the boy to Columbia and he would make him a lawyer. He attended Campbell Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee and subsequently East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee) where he graduated in 1843.[1] He subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1845, serving in various governmental positions, and working for James K. Polk until he entered private practice in 1848 in Columbia, Tennessee. On July 4, 1848 Whitthorne married Matilda Jane Campbell, a cousin of Polk.[2]

He was elected to serve in the Tennessee State Senate from 1855 to 1858. Whitthorne was then elected Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1859 to 1861.[2]

Civil War service

In 1861 he became Adjutant General of Tennessee for the Confederacy, and served in that post through the end of the Civil War. He also served on the staff of generals Robert Anderson, Marcus Joseph Wright, Samuel P. Carter, and William J. Hardee.[1]

Postbellum career

After Lee had surrendered at Appomattox, Whitthorne was held as prisoner of war at Columbia in order to be shielded from Federal prosecution. President Andrew Johnson interceded, gave him a Presidential pardon, and restored his civil rights. In 1870, Whitthorne began a campaign for the United States House of Representatives.[3] He won the election and would eventually serve six consecutive terms during his initial service in the House of Representatives, chairing the House Committee on Naval Affairs from 1875 to 1881.[3]

Upon the resignation of Senator Howell E. Jackson, Whitthorne was appointed to the U.S. Senate by governor of Tennessee William B. Bate and then subsequently elected to the balance of the term by the Tennessee General Assembly, serving in the Senate from April 16, 1886 to March 4, 1887.[1] Following his Senate service he served two more subsequent consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives, from 1887 to 1891. After serving in the House of Representatives Whitthorne returned to Columbia and died there later in 1891, being interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.[3] Whitthorne Middle School in Columbia, formerly Whitthorne Junior High School, is named in his honor.

See also

References

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 United States Congress's pg. 109
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bar Association of Tennessee's pp. 126-129
  3. 1 2 3 The National Cyclopedia of American Biography pg. 140
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Samuel Mayes Arnell		 U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District
1871–1875 		Succeeded by
John Ford House
Preceded by
John DeWitt Clinton Atkins		 U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District
1875–1883 		Succeeded by
John Goff Ballentine
Preceded by
John Ballentine		 U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District
1887–1891 		Succeeded by
Nicholas N. Cox
United States Senate
Preceded by
Howell E. Jackson		 U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Tennessee
1886–1887
Served alongside: Isham G. Harris		 Succeeded by
William B. Bate
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