Walter Allen Watson
Encyclopedia
Walter Allen Watson was a U.S. Representative
from Virginia
.
, Watson attended "old field" school, and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College
, Virginia
, in 1887.
He studied law at the University of Virginia
in Charlottesville in 1888 and 1889.
He was admitted to the bar
in 1893 and commenced practice in Nottoway and adjoining counties in Virginia.
He served as a member of the Senate of Virginia
from 1891 to 1895 and acted as Commonwealth's Attorney
from 1895 to 1904. He served as member of the Democratic state committee
in 1901 and 1902. From 1904 to 1912, he served as Circuit judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Virginia
.
Watson was elected as a Democrat
to the 63rd Congress
and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1913, until his death in Washington, D.C.
, December 24, 1919.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Elections No. 3 (65th Congress
).
He was interred in the family cemetery on his estate, "Woodland," in Nottoway County, Virginia.
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...
from 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...
.
Life
Born in Nottoway County, VirginiaNottoway County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,725 people, 5,664 households, and 3,885 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 6,373 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Watson attended "old field" school, and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
, 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 1887.
He 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...
in Charlottesville in 1888 and 1889.
He was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1893 and commenced practice in Nottoway and adjoining counties in Virginia.
He served as a member of the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
from 1891 to 1895 and acted as Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
from 1895 to 1904. He served as member of the Democratic state committee
Democratic Party of Virginia
The Democratic Party of Virginia is based in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party of the United States. The organization is governed by a State Party Plan, which guarantees an open and fair candidate selection process...
in 1901 and 1902. From 1904 to 1912, he served as Circuit judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Virginia
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
.
Watson was elected as a Democrat
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...
to the 63rd Congress
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1913, until his death in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, December 24, 1919.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Elections No. 3 (65th Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
).
He was interred in the family cemetery on his estate, "Woodland," in Nottoway County, Virginia.