Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett
Encyclopedia
Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett (July 25, 1821 – February 14, 1864), was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia
.
Garnett was the son of James Mercer Garnett and Maria (Hunter) Garnett. He was the grandson of James M. Garnett
and nephew of Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter
. He was born on his family’s "Elmwood" estate (located near Loretto, Virginia
). He attended the University of Virginia
, where he received his law degree in 1842. Garnett was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1842, and set up practice, as his father had done, in Loretto. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000076
He was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention
in 1850 and 1851. During that time (in 1850), he wrote a pamphlet The Union, Past and Future; how it works and how to save it. By a Citizen of Virginia, which discussed the relationship of slavery to the national government.http://etext.virginia.edu/garnett/home_library/home_library.html#owner
Prior to his election to Congress
, he was a Virginia delegate to both the 1852 and 1856 Democratic National Convention
s, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
(from 1853–1856), and a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia (from 1855–1859).
He was married on July 26, 1860, to Mary Picton, daughter of Edwin Stevens. They had two children before his early death: James Mercer Garnett, born July 7, 1861, and Mary Barton Picton Garnett, born May 28, 1863.http://etext.virginia.edu/garnett/home_library/home_library.html#owner
In 1856, Garnett was elected as a Democrat
from Virginia's 1st Congressional District to the 34th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas H. Bayly
. He was subsequently reelected to both the 35th and 36th Congresses, serving from December 1, 1856, to March 3, 1861, only leaving at the outbreak of the Civil War
.
With his sympathies lying with the South, he became a delegate to first the Virginia secession convention and then to the State constitutional convention in 1861. From 1862–1864, he was as a Virginian member of the First Confederate Congress
. During that same time, his uncle Robert Hunter was the CSA Secretary of State
and then a CSA Senator. While attending the Confederate Congress in early 1864, Muscoe caught typhoid fever
http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/garnet-garretson.html, and subsequently died at his family's "Elmwood" estate on February 14, 1864, where he was buried in the family cemetery.
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...
.
Garnett was the son of James Mercer Garnett and Maria (Hunter) Garnett. He was the grandson of James M. Garnett
James M. Garnett
James Mercer Garnett was a nineteenth century politician and planter from Virginia. He was the brother of Robert S. Garnett, the first cousin of Charles F. Mercer, and the grandfather of Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett....
and nephew of Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter
Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter
-References:* Patrick, Rembert W. . Jefferson Davis and His Cabinet. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. pp. 90–101.-External links:* – A speech by R. M. T. Hunter before the U.S. House of Representatives, May 8th, 1846...
. He was born on his family’s "Elmwood" estate (located near Loretto, Virginia
Loretto, Virginia
Loretto is an unincorporated community in Essex County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
). He attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where he received his law degree in 1842. Garnett was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1842, and set up practice, as his father had done, in Loretto. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000076
He was a delegate to 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...
in 1850 and 1851. During that time (in 1850), he wrote a pamphlet The Union, Past and Future; how it works and how to save it. By a Citizen of Virginia, which discussed the relationship of slavery to the national government.http://etext.virginia.edu/garnett/home_library/home_library.html#owner
Prior to his election to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, he was a Virginia delegate to both the 1852 and 1856 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...
s, 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 1853–1856), and a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia (from 1855–1859).
He was married on July 26, 1860, to Mary Picton, daughter of Edwin Stevens. They had two children before his early death: James Mercer Garnett, born July 7, 1861, and Mary Barton Picton Garnett, born May 28, 1863.http://etext.virginia.edu/garnett/home_library/home_library.html#owner
In 1856, Garnett 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...
from Virginia's 1st Congressional District to the 34th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas H. Bayly
Thomas H. Bayly
Thomas Henry Bayly was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Virginia. He was the son of Thomas M. Bayly.-Biography:...
. He was subsequently reelected to both the 35th and 36th Congresses, serving from December 1, 1856, to March 3, 1861, only leaving 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...
.
With his sympathies lying with the South, he became a delegate to first the Virginia secession convention and then to the State constitutional convention in 1861. From 1862–1864, he was as a Virginian member of the First Confederate Congress
First Confederate Congress
The First Confederate Congress was the first regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the First Confederate Congress were chosen in elections mostly held on 6 November 1861.-Sessions:...
. During that same time, his uncle Robert Hunter was the CSA Secretary of State
Confederate States Secretary of State
The Confederate States Secretary of State was the head of the Confederate States State Department from 1861 to 1865 during the American Civil War. There were three people who served the position in this time. The department crumbled with the Confederate States of America in May 1865, marking the...
and then a CSA Senator. While attending the Confederate Congress in early 1864, Muscoe caught typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/garnet-garretson.html, and subsequently died at his family's "Elmwood" estate on February 14, 1864, where he was buried in the family cemetery.