William S. Archer

William Segar Archer
United States Senator
from Virginia
In office
March 4, 1841 March 4, 1847
Preceded by William H. Roane
Succeeded by Robert M. T. Hunter
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
In office
February 22, 1834 March 3, 1835
Preceded by William C. Rives
Succeeded by William Allen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1823  March 4, 1835
Preceded by Jared Williams
Succeeded by John W. Jones
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 17th district
In office
January 3, 1820  March 4, 1823
Preceded by James Pleasants
Succeeded by Jared Williams
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
In office
March 4, 1829 March 3, 1835
Preceded by Edward Everett
Succeeded by James Moore Wayne
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1812–1819
Personal details
Born (1789-03-05)March 5, 1789
Amelia County, Virginia
Died March 28, 1855(1855-03-28) (aged 66)
Amelia County, Virginia
Resting place Amelia County, Virginia
Political party Democratic-Republican
Other political
affiliations
Democrat
Whig
Alma mater The College of William & Mary
Profession Politician, Lawyer

William Segar Archer (March 5, 1789  March 28, 1855) was a politician and lawyer from Virginia who served in the United States Senate from 1841 to 1847. He was the nephew of Joseph Eggleston.

Biography

Born at "The Lodge" in Amelia County, Virginia, received a private education and graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1806. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1810, commencing practice in Amelia and Powhatan Counties. He served four terms in the Virginia House of Delegates between 1812 and 1819 and was elected to the United States House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Pleasants, reelected in 1820, 1824, 1826, 1828, 1830 and 1832, serving from 1820 to 1835. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1829 to 1835 and was defeated for reelection in 1834.

Archer was elected a Whig to the United States Senate in 1840, serving one full term from 1841 to 1847. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations from 1841 to 1845 and of the Committee on Naval Affairs from 1841 to 1843. He was also a key member of the committee who drafted the Missouri compromise on which he exerted great influence. After being defeated for reelection by Robert M. T. Hunter in 1846, Archer resumed practicing law until his death at "The Lodge" in Amelia County, Virginia on March 28, 1855. He was interred in the family cemetery at "The Lodge".

Elections

References

    United States House of Representatives
    Preceded by
    James Pleasants
    Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
    from Virginia's 17th congressional district

    1820–1823
    Succeeded by
    Jared Williams
    Preceded by
    Jared Williams
    Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
    from Virginia's 3rd congressional district

    1823–1835
    Succeeded by
    John W. Jones
    United States Senate
    Preceded by
    William H. Roane
    U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Virginia
    1841–1847
    Served alongside: William C. Rives, Isaac S. Pennybacker, James M. Mason
    Succeeded by
    Robert M. T. Hunter
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Edward Everett
    Massachusetts
    Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee
    1829–1834
    Succeeded by
    James Moore Wayne
    Georgia
    Preceded by
    William C. Rives
    Virginia
    Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee
    1842–1845
    Succeeded by
    William Allen
    Ohio
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