Augustus A. Chapman
Encyclopedia
Augustus Alexandria Chapman (March 9, 1805 – June 7, 1876) was a 19th century politician and lawyer from Virginia
.
(now West Virginia
), Chapman studied law as a young adult. He was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced practice in Union. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1835 to 1841 and was later elected a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
, serving two terms from 1843 to 1847. Chapman was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention
from 1850 to 1851 and later returned to the House of Delegates from 1857 to 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War
, Chapman became a brigadier general
of the Virginia Militia
and as such took the field with his command in 1861. After the war, he resumed practicing law in his home town and engaged in agricultural
pursuits. He died on June 7, 1876 in Hinton, West Virginia
. He was interred at Green Hill Cemetery in Union, West Virginia
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Biography
Born in Union, VirginiaUnion, West Virginia
Union is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 548 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-History:...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
), Chapman studied law as a young adult. He was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced practice in Union. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1835 to 1841 and was later elected a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, serving two terms from 1843 to 1847. Chapman was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
from 1850 to 1851 and later returned to the House of Delegates from 1857 to 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Chapman became a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of the Virginia Militia
Virginia Militia
The Virginia militia is an armed force composed of all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia capable of bearing arms. The Virginia militia was established in 1607 as part of the British militia system. Militia service in Virginia was compulsory for all free males...
and as such took the field with his command in 1861. After the war, he resumed practicing law in his home town and engaged in agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
pursuits. He died on June 7, 1876 in Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named for John "Jack" Hinton, a prominent lawyer of Summers County and husband of...
. He was interred at Green Hill Cemetery in Union, West Virginia
Union, West Virginia
Union is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 548 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-History:...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
External links
Retrieved on 2008-08-12- Augustus A. Chapman at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...