Richard Hanson Weightman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Hanson Weightman (December 28, 1816 - August 10, 1861) was a Delegate to the United States Congress from the Territory of New Mexico. He was also a district commander of the secessionist Missouri State Guard during the American Civil War.
Born in Washington, D.C., Weightman attended private schools there and in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1834. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, 1835-1837 (but did not graduate), and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 in the District of Columbia, but did not practice. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and on May 28, 1846, was elected captain of Clark's Battalion, Missouri Volunteer Light Artillery, in the Mexican War. He served as Additional Paymaster, Volunteers, in the Army in 1848 and 1849. He moved to New Mexico in 1851 and edited a newspaper in Santa Fe. He was appointed agent for Indians in New Mexico in July 1851.
Weightman was elected as a Democrat and the Territory's first Delegate to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851-March 3, 1853). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1852, but resumed newspaper work. He moved to Kickapoo and Atchison, Kansas, in 1858, and went to Independence, Missouri, in 1861.
Weightman was elected colonel, First Regiment Cavalry, Eighth Division, Missouri State Guard, June 11, 1861. He was promoted to command of First Brigade, Eighth Division, June 20, 1861 and led it competently at the Battle of Carthage on July 5. He was killed while leading the brigade at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, August 10, 1861, and was interred on the battlefield near Springfield, Missouri.
