George Washington Hopkins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Virginia politician, diplomat, lawyer, judge and teacher. For the set director, see George Hopkins.

For the Florida industrialist, see George W. Hopkins.

George Washington Hopkins (February 22, 1804 – March 1, 1861) was a nineteenth century politician, diplomat, lawyer, judge and teacher from Virginia.

Born in Goochland County, Virginia near Goochland Court House, Hopkins attended the common schools as a child. He later taught school, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1834, commencing practice in Lebanon, Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1833 to 1835 and was elected a Jacksonian, Democrat and Conservative to the United States House of Representatives in 1834, serving from 1835 to 1847. Their, Hopkins served as chairman of the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads from 1843 to 1847. He did not run for reelection in 1846 and instead was appointed by President James Polk Chargé d’Affaires to Portugal in 1847 which he served as until 1849. Hopkins returned to the House of Delegates in 1850 and 1851 and was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1850 and 1851. He served as judge of the circuit court of Washington, D.C. and other counties and was elected back to the House of Representatives in 1856, serving again from 1857 to 1859. Their, he served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1857 to 1859. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1858 and resumed practicing law in Abingdon, Virginia. Hopkins served in the House of Delegates for a third time from 1859 until his death in Richmond, Virginia on March 1, 1861. He was interned in Sinking Springs Cemetery in Abingdon.

[edit] External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• George Washington Hopkins at Find A Grave

Preceded by John H. Fulton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 18th congressional district March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1843 (obsolete district)	Succeeded by (none)
Preceded by William Smith	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th congressional district March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847 (obsolete district)	Succeeded by Andrew S. Fulton
Preceded by Abraham Rencher	United States Ambassador to Portugal March 3, 1847 – October 18, 1849	Succeeded by James Brown Clay
Preceded by LaFayette McMullen	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th congressional district March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 (obsolete district)	Succeeded by Elbert S. Martin

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.