John W. Leftwich
Encyclopedia
John William Leftwich was an American
politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives
for the 8th congressional district
of Tennessee
. He was born in Liberty (now Bedford
), Virginia
in Bedford County
on September 7, 1826. He attended the public schools, studied medicine, and graduated from Philadelphia Medical College in 1850. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee
and engaged in mercantile
pursuits.
Upon the readmission of Tennessee to representation, he was elected as a Democrat
and Unconditional Unionist to the Thirty-ninth Congress. He served from July 24, 1866 to March 3, 1867 and was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1868. He was mayor of Memphis in 1869 and 1870. He contested the election of William J. Smith
to the Forty-first Congress, but while on his way to Washington
to prosecute the contest, he died in Lynchburg, Virginia
on March 6, 1870. He was interred
in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and a member of 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...
for the 8th congressional district
Tennessee's 8th congressional district
The 8th Congressional District of Tennessee is a congressional district in Tennessee. It currently includes roughly the northwestern part of the state....
of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He was born in Liberty (now Bedford
Bedford, Virginia
Bedford is an independent city located within the confines of Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 6,222. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bedford with surrounding Bedford...
), 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...
in Bedford County
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
on September 7, 1826. He attended the public schools, studied medicine, and graduated from Philadelphia Medical College in 1850. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and engaged in mercantile
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
pursuits.
Upon the readmission of Tennessee to representation, he was elected as 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...
and Unconditional Unionist to the Thirty-ninth Congress. He served from July 24, 1866 to March 3, 1867 and was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1868. He was mayor of Memphis in 1869 and 1870. He contested the election of William J. Smith
William Jay Smith (Tennessee politician)
William Jay Smith, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Birmingham, England on 24 September 1823; immigrated to the United States and settled in Orange County ; attended the common schools; learned the printing trade; moved to Tennessee in 1846; during the Mexican-American War, in 1847, served...
to the Forty-first Congress, but while on his way to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to prosecute the contest, he died in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
on March 6, 1870. He was interred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.