Asa Biggs

Asa Biggs (February 4, 1811 – March 6, 1878) was a United States Representative and a United States Senator from North Carolina and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Albemarle, Cape Fear and Pamptico Districts of North Carolina.

"Senator Biggs" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Biggs (disambiguation).
Asa Biggs
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina
In office
May 3, 1858 – April 23, 1861
Appointed byJames Buchanan
Preceded byHenry Potter
Succeeded byGeorge Washington Brooks
United States senator
from North Carolina
In office
March 4, 1855 – May 5, 1858
Preceded byGeorge Edmund Badger
Succeeded byThomas Lanier Clingman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 9th district
In office
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847
Preceded byKenneth Rayner
Succeeded byDavid Outlaw
Personal details
Born
Asa Biggs

(1811-02-04)February 4, 1811
Williamston, North Carolina
DiedMarch 6, 1878(1878-03-06) (aged 67)
Norfolk, Virginia
Resting placeElmwood Cemetery
Norfolk, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Educationread law

Education and career

Born on February 4, 1811, in Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina,[1] Biggs attended the common schools and pursued classical studies, then read law in 1831.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Williamston from 1831 to 1845, and from 1847 to 1854.[1] He was a delegate to the North Carolina constitutional convention in 1835.[1] He was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons (now the North Carolina House of Representatives) from 1840 to 1842.[1] He was a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1844 to 1845.[1]

Congressional service

Biggs was elected as a Democrat from North Carolina's 9th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 29th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847.[2] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1846.[2] He was a member of a commission to codify North Carolina laws in 1851.[2] He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1855, until May 5, 1858, when he resigned to accept a federal judicial post.[2]

Federal judicial service

Biggs was nominated by President James Buchanan on May 3, 1858, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Albemarle, Cape Fear and Pamptico Districts of North Carolina (also referenced officially as the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina) vacated by Judge Henry Potter.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 3, 1858, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on April 23, 1861, due to his resignation.[1]

Later career and death

Biggs was a member of the secession convention of North Carolina in 1861.[2] Following his resignation from the federal bench, Biggs served as a Judge of the Confederate District Court for the District of North Carolina from 1861 to 1865.[1] He resumed private practice in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina from 1865 to 1868.[1] He continued private practice and was a businessman in Norfolk, Virginia from 1868 to 1878.[1] He died on March 6, 1878, in Norfolk.[1] He was interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk.[2]

Autobiography

During the American Civil War, Biggs took refuge at Dalkeith near the unincorporated community of Arcola,[3] Warren County, North Carolina, where he wrote his autobiography.[4]

Asa Biggs House
Historical marker, Williamston, North Carolina

The Asa Biggs House and Site at Williamston was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[5]

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References
  1. Asa Biggs at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. United States Congress. "Asa Biggs (id: B000456)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  3. "Arcola". www.google.com/maps.
  4. Survey and Planning Unit Staff (October 1974). "Dalkeith" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  5. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

Sources
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Kenneth Rayner		 United States Representative from North Carolina's 9th congressional district
1845–1847		 Succeeded by
David Outlaw
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
George Edmund Badger		 U.S. senator (Class 3) from North Carolina
1855–1858
Served alongside: David Settle Reid		 Succeeded by
Thomas Lanier Clingman
Legal offices
Preceded by
Henry Potter		 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina
1858–1861		 Succeeded by
George Washington Brooks
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