Washington C. Whitthorne
Encyclopedia
Washington Curran Whitthorne (April 19, 1825 September 21, 1891) was a Tennessee
attorney
, Democratic politician
, and an Adjutant General
in the Confederate Army.
in Marshall County. One day when Whitthorne was young James K. Polk
stayed at his family's home. 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." 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. 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.
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.
of Tennessee for the Confederacy
, and served 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
.
interceded, gave him a Presidential pardon, and restored his civil rights
. In 1870, Whitthorne began a campaign for the United States House of Representatives
. 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.
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. 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. Whitthorne Middle School in Columbia, formerly Whitthorne Junior High School, is named in his honor.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and an Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
in the Confederate Army.
Early life and career
Whitthorne was born near Petersburg, TennesseePetersburg, Tennessee
Petersburg is a town in Lincoln and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 580 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Petersburg is located at ....
in Marshall County. One day when Whitthorne was young James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
stayed at his family's home. 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." Polk then told them to send the boy to Columbia
Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County....
and he would make him a lawyer. He attended Campbell Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
and subsequently East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
) where he graduated in 1843. He subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1845, serving in various governmental positions, and working for James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
until he entered private practice in 1848 in Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County....
. On July 4, 1848 Whitthorne married Matilda Jane Campbell a cousin of Polk.
He was elected to serve in the Tennessee State Senate from 1855 to 1858. Whitthorne was then elected Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
from 1859 to 1861.
Civil War service
In 1861 he became Adjutant GeneralAdjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of Tennessee for the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, and served that post through the end of the 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 also served on the staff of generals
History of Confederate States Army Generals
The general officers of the Confederate States Army - the army of the Confederate States of America - were the senior military leaders of the Confederacy and served during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
Robert Anderson, Marcus Joseph Wright
Marcus Joseph Wright
Marcus Joseph Wright was a lawyer, author, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was agent for collection of Confederate records for War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, a U.S. War Department publication.-Early life:Wright was born in Purdy,...
, Samuel P. Carter
Samuel P. Carter
Samuel Perry "Powhatan" Carter was a United States naval officer who served in the Union Army as a brevet major general during the American Civil War and became a rear admiral in the postbellum United States Navy. He was the first and thusfar only United States officer to have been commissioned...
, and William J. Hardee
William J. Hardee
William Joseph Hardee was a career U.S. Army officer, serving during the Second Seminole War and fighting in the Mexican-American War...
.
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 JohnsonAndrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
interceded, gave him a Presidential pardon, and restored his civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. In 1870, Whitthorne began a campaign for the United States House of Representatives
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...
. 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
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
from 1875 to 1881.
Upon the resignation of Senator Howell E. Jackson, Whitthorne was appointed to the U.S. 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...
by governor of Tennessee William B. Bate
William B. Bate
William Brimage Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883 to 1887 and subsequently a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1887 until his death...
and then subsequently elected to the balance of the term by the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
, serving in the Senate from April 16, 1886 to March 4, 1887. Following his Senate service he served two more subsequent consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives
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 1887 to 1891. After serving in the House of Representatives Whitthorne returned to Columbia
Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County....
and died there later in 1891, being interred at Rose Hill Cemetery. Whitthorne Middle School in Columbia, formerly Whitthorne Junior High School, is named in his honor.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals