Robert Desha

Robert Desha (January 14, 1791 - February 6, 1849) was an American politician who represented Tennessee's 5th Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

Biography

Desha was born near Gallatin, Tennessee on January 14, 1791 son of Robert and Elinor Wheeler Desha. He attended the public schools and engaged in mercantile business at Gallatin.

Career

On March 12, 1812, Desha was appointed as a captain in the Twenty-fourth Regiment of the United States Infantry in the War of 1812. He also served as a brevet major before being honorably discharged on June 15, 1815.^[1] He married Eleanor Shelby in 1816.^[2] They had two daughters, Caroline and Phoebe Ann.^[3]

Elected as a Jacksonian to the Twentieth and Twenty-first Congresses, Dresha served from March 4, 1827 to March 3, 1831.^[4] He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1830 for the Twenty-second Congress, moved to Mobile, Alabama and continued to engage in mercantile pursuits there.

Death

Desha died on February 6, 1849 (age 58 years, 33 days). He was interred in Magnolia Cemetery. He was the brother of U.S. Representative and Kentucky governor Joseph Desha.^[5]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Desha.

• Robert Desha at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Find A Grave