William Wirt Vaughan

William Wirt Vaughan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1871  March 3, 1873
Preceded by William J. Smith
Succeeded by David A. Nunn
Personal details
Born July 2, 1831
LaGuardo, Tennessee
Died August 19, 1878 (aged 47)
Crockett County
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Cumberland University
Profession lawyer

politician

railroad president

William Wirt Vaughan (July 2, 1831 - August 19, 1878) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 8th congressional district of Tennessee.

Biography

Vaughan was born on July 2, 1831 in LaGuardo (now Martha), Tennessee in Wilson County. He attended the common schools and graduated from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1860, and commenced practice in Brownsville, Tennessee.[1]

Elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress, Vaughan served from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1873,[2] but was not a successful candidate for re-election in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Brownsville and became one of the prime movers in the building of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad branch from Brownsville to Newbern. He was president of the system at the time of his death. He became a candidate for election in 1878 to the Forty-sixth Congress.

Death

On August 19, 1878 Vaughan died, at age 47 years, 48 days, in Crockett Mills near Alamo, Tennessee in Crockett County while canvassing the district. He is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Brownsville, Tennessee.[3]

References

  1. "William Wirt Vaughan". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  2. "William Wirt Vaughan". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  3. "William Wirt Vaughan". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 10 April 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Wirt Vaughan.


United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
William J. Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 8th congressional district

1871-1873
Succeeded by
David A. Nunn