Robert B. Vance

Robert B. Vance
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for Buncombe
In office
January 4, 1893  January 9, 1895
Preceded by J. P. Lowery
Succeeded by Virgil S. Lusk
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1873  March 3, 1885
Preceded by Zebulon B. Vance
(prior to Civil War, 1861)
Succeeded by William H. H. Cowles
Personal details
Born Robert Brank Vance
April 24, 1828
Buncombe, North Carolina
Died November 28, 1899 (aged 71)
Asheville, North Carolina
Political party Democratic
Profession Farmer, merchant
Military service
Allegiance  Confederate States
Service/branch Confederate States Army
Years of service 1861–1865
Rank Brigadier general
Battles/wars American Civil War

Robert Brank Vance (April 24, 1828 November 28, 1899), nephew of the earlier Congressman Robert B. Vance (1793–1827) and brother of Zebulon B. Vance, was a North Carolina Democratic politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms (1873–1885). He was chairman of the United States House Committee on Patents. During the American Civil War, Vance served in the Confederate States Army, where he reached the rank of brigadier general.

Early life

Vance was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina. He attended the common schools in the county and worked as a farmer and a merchant. He later served as the clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions in Buncombe County.[1]

Civil War

Vance recruited a company known as the Buncombe Life Guards and was elected captain of the company. He was then elected colonel of the newly formed 29th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He was sent to eastern Tennessee and took part in his defense of the Cumberland Gap and went with Edmund Kirby Smith into Kentucky. Vance commanded the brigade of James E. Rains after his death at the Battle of Murfreesboro. This command was short lived as Vance contracts typhoid fever. He was promoted to brigadier general to rank from March 4, 1863. After he recovered from his illness, he was assigned to Western North Carolina. He was captured on January 14, 1864 at Crosbys Creek, Tennessee (by Sergeant Everett W. Anderson of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry) and was held at Fort Delaware until March 10, 1865.[1][2]

Post-War career

Vance was elected to Congress six times, serving from 1873 to 1885. After losing his seat in Congress, Vance served as federal Assistant Commissioner of Patents and later was elected to one term in the North Carolina House of Representatives (1894–1896).[2]

Freemasonry

Robert B. Vance was Master of Mount Hermon Lodge #118, located in Asheville, N.C. in 1866, 1867 and 1873.[3] He was Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina in 1868 and 1869.[4]

Death

Vance died near Asheville, North Carolina on November 28, 1899. He and his brother Zebulon are both interred in the Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North Carolina.[2][5]

See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Warner, p. 313.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Warner, p. 314.
  3. "Mount Hermon Masonic Lodge". Mount Hermon 118. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. "Officers of the GRAND LODGE A.F. & A. M. of NORTH CAROLINA". 1787 TO 1887 First One Hundred Years. Grand Lodge of North Carolina. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. "Riverside Cemetery". nps.gov. National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2008-02-25.

References

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Civil War
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 8th congressional district

1873–1885
Succeeded by
William H.H. Cowles