Samuel Chilton

Samuel Chilton (September 7, 1804 – January 7, 1867) was a 19th-century politician and lawyer from Virginia.

For the bishop of Virginia, see Samuel B. Chilton.
Samuel Chilton
BornSeptember 7, 1804
Fauquier County, Virginia
DiedJanuary 7, 1867(1867-01-07) (aged 62)
Warrenton, Virginia
OccupationPolitician, lawyer
Spouse(s)Isabella R. Brooke (1832 - 1867, his death)
Children5

Biography
Chilton's grave in the family plot at Warrenton Cemetery.

Born in Warrenton, Virginia, Chilton moved to Missouri with his family as a child and attended private school there. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1826, commencing practice back in Warrenton. He got involved in politics and was elected a Whig to the United States House of Representatives in 1842 when he narrowly defeated William "Extra Billy" Smith following a redistricting. Chilton served one term from 1843 to 1845, during which he advocated abolishing imprisonment for debt. Afterward, he returned to practicing law and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention from 1850 to 1851. At the convention he proposed a key compromise on legislative apportionment.

Chilton moved to Washington, D.C., by 1853 and became a member of American Party, or Know-Nothings. In 1859 he was appointed as a defense attorney for abolitionist John Brown after his previous defense attorneys advocated that the defendant advance a plea of insanity as his defense.

Chilton died in Warrenton on January 7, 1867 and was interred there at Warrenton Cemetery.

Sources
    • John T. Kneebone et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography (Richmond: The Library of Virginia, 1998- ), 3:217-218. ISBN 0-88490-206-4.
    • Death date in obituary, Warrenton True Index, 12, 19 Jan. 1867.
    • "John Brown Trial: 1859 - Brown's Lawyers Search For A Defense," Law Library - American Law and Legal Information, http://law.jrank.org/pages/2558/John-Brown-Trial-1859-Brown-s-Lawyers-Search-Defense.html (accessed December 14, 2009).
    gollark: It's seen as scary or something. They did actually put a magical taboo on it at some point.
    gollark: 150, but yes.
    gollark: Allegedly. This is mostly just marketing.
    gollark: Unlike cool™ technological civilization™, their knowledge worsens every year.
    gollark: Also very backward.
    U.S. House of Representatives
    Preceded by
    William "Extra Billy" Smith    		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
    from Virginia's 9th congressional district
    March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845    		 Succeeded by
    John Pendleton


    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.