John W. Daniel
Encyclopedia
John Warwick Daniel was an American
lawyer, author, and Democratic
politician from Lynchburg, Virginia
. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates
and represented Virginia
in both the U.S. House
and then five terms in the Senate
. Daniel was known as the Lame Lion of Lynchburg because he was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness
while serving as a major
in the Confederate Army
.
, and attended private schools, Lynchburg College
, and Dr. Gessner Harrison’s University School. During the American Civil War
, he served in the Confederate Army from 1861–64, attaining the rank of major. He was an important staff officer for Major General Jubal A. Early in several campaigns, including Gettysburg
. Daniel was permanently disabled in the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864 and resigned his commission.
Daniel studied law at the University of Virginia
at Charlottesville
and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He established his practice at Lynchburg. Despite being crippled from his war injury, he entered politics and was a member of the House of Delegates from 1869–72. Daniel was elected to the state senate in 1876 and served until 1881, when he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Virginia
. In 1884, he was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1887.
Daniel was subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate. He was reelected in 1891, 1897, 1904, and 1910, and served from March 4, 1887, until his death.
During his tenure, he served as chairman, Committee on Revision of the Laws of the United States (Fifty-third Congress). He was also a member of several committees, including the Committee on Corporations Organized in the District of Columbia (Fifty-fifth Congress), the Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine (Sixtieth Congress), and the Committee on Private Land Claims (Sixty-first Congress).
Daniel staunchly supported an American intervention into Cuba during the 1890s and often spoke at length on Spanish cruelties.
Always interested in veterans affairs, Senator Daniel was heavily involved in the initial planning of the Virginia Memorial on the Gettysburg Battlefield
.
Daniel was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901
.
Daniel died in Lynchburg and was buried there in the Spring Hill Cemetery. A large bronze statue of him is near the intersection of Park Avenue and 9th Street in Lynchburg. His father's home, Point of Honor
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970 and is currently operated as a house museum by the City of Lynchburg. His birthplace, the John Marshall Warwick House
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, author, and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and represented Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in both the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and then five terms in the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Daniel was known as the Lame Lion of Lynchburg because he was seriously wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
while serving as a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
.
Biography
John W. Daniel was born in Lynchburg, VirginiaLynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, and attended private schools, Lynchburg College
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg College is a private college in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, related by covenant to the Christian Church with approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The Princeton Review lists it as one of the 368 best colleges in the nation...
, and Dr. Gessner Harrison’s University School. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he served in the Confederate Army from 1861–64, attaining the rank of major. He was an important staff officer for Major General Jubal A. Early in several campaigns, including Gettysburg
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
. Daniel was permanently disabled in the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864 and resigned his commission.
Daniel studied law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
at Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He established his practice at Lynchburg. Despite being crippled from his war injury, he entered politics and was a member of the House of Delegates from 1869–72. Daniel was elected to the state senate in 1876 and served until 1881, when he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
. In 1884, he was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth Congress and served from March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1887.
Daniel was subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate. He was reelected in 1891, 1897, 1904, and 1910, and served from March 4, 1887, until his death.
During his tenure, he served as chairman, Committee on Revision of the Laws of the United States (Fifty-third Congress). He was also a member of several committees, including the Committee on Corporations Organized in the District of Columbia (Fifty-fifth Congress), the Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine (Sixtieth Congress), and the Committee on Private Land Claims (Sixty-first Congress).
Daniel staunchly supported an American intervention into Cuba during the 1890s and often spoke at length on Spanish cruelties.
Always interested in veterans affairs, Senator Daniel was heavily involved in the initial planning of the Virginia Memorial on the Gettysburg Battlefield
Gettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
.
Daniel was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901
Constitution of Virginia
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the document that defines and limits the powers of the state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. Like all other state constitutions, it is supreme over Virginia's laws and acts of government,...
.
Daniel died in Lynchburg and was buried there in the Spring Hill Cemetery. A large bronze statue of him is near the intersection of Park Avenue and 9th Street in Lynchburg. His father's home, Point of Honor
Point of Honor
Point of Honor is a historic home located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is an irregular shaped two-story Federal mansion of stuccoed brick. The facade is composed of a three-bay center section flanked by two octagonal ended projections. Construction was started in 1806, and completed in 1815. The...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970 and is currently operated as a house museum by the City of Lynchburg. His birthplace, the John Marshall Warwick House
John Marshall Warwick House
John Marshall Warwick House is a historic home located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It was built in 1826 by prominent Lynchburg tobacconist and city mayor , John Marshall Warwick. It was one of the first houses to be built on the crest of Lynchburg Hill, later to be called Court House Hill, overlooking...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.