Edmund Pettus

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Edmund W. Pettus

United States Senator from Alabama
In office March 4, 1897 – July 27, 1907
Preceded by	James L. Pugh
Succeeded by	Joseph F. Johnston

Born	July 6, 1821(1821-07-06) Athens, Tennessee
Died	July 27, 1907 (aged 86) Hot Springs, North Carolina
Military service
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Edmund Winston Pettus (July 6, 1821 – July 27, 1907), for whom the civil rights landmark Edmund Pettus Bridge was named, was a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War, as well as a postbellum U.S. Senator.

Pettus was born in Limestone County, Alabama, where he was educated. He passed his bar exam and then was a lawyer and judge.

During the early part of the Civil War, he commanded the 20th Alabama as its colonel. He served throughout the Western Theater, including during the Vicksburg Campaign.

He resumed his law practice after the war and went on to serve in the U.S. Senate. He served in the Senate from March 4, 1897 to his death on July 27, 1907.

The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, became a civil rights landmark when on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, a band of civil rights marchers on their way to Montgomery crossed the bridge, only to be attacked by state troopers on the other side.

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Biography from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Preceded by James L. Pugh	United States Senator (Class 3) from Alabama 1897–1907 Served alongside: John T. Morgan, John H. Bankhead	Succeeded by Joseph F. Johnston
Preceded by Daniel T. Jewett	Oldest living U.S. Senator January 6, 1901-July 27, 1907	Succeeded by John Conness

v • d • e United States Senators from Alabama

Class 2: King • Lewis • Fitzpatrick • Clemens • C. Claiborne Clay • Warner • Goldthwaite • Morgan • Bankhead, Sr. • Comer • J. Heflin • Bankhead, Jr. • Swift • Sparkman • H. Heflin • Sessions Class 3: Walker • Kelly • Chambers • Pickens • McKinley • Moore • McKinley • C. Comer Clay • Bagby • King • Fitzpatrick • Spencer • Houston • Pryor • Pugh • Pettus • Johnston • White • Underwood • Black • Graves • Hill • J. Allen • M. Allen • Stewart • Denton • Shelby