Chilton Allan was a United States Representative from Kentucky

Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

. He was born in Albemarle County, Virginia

Albemarle County, Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...

 before moving with his mother to Winchester, Kentucky

Winchester, Kentucky

Winchester is a city in and the county seat of Clark County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,724 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

 in 1797. He attended the common schools, and also received private instructions. After this, he served an apprenticeship of three years as a wheelwright

Wheelwright

A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...

, studying law

Law

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 in his leisure time. He was admitted to the bar in 1808 and commenced practice in Winchester, Kentucky.

Allan was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives

Kentucky House of Representatives

The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...

 in 1811, 1815, 1822, and 1830 and a member of the Kentucky Senate

Kentucky Senate

The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...

 1823–1827. He was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-second and Twenty-third Congresses and reelected as a Whig to the Twenty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1837). In Congress, he served as chairman, Committee on Territories (Twenty-third Congress) but was not a candidate for renomination in 1836.

After leaving Congress, he was appointed president of the Kentucky board of internal improvements

Internal improvements

Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...

in 1837 and served until 1839, when he resigned. He resumed the practice of law and was again a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1842. He died in Winchester, Kentucky in 1858 and was buried in Winchester Cemetery.