Zebulon Weaver
Encyclopedia
Zebulon Weaver was a Democratic U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
between 1917 and 1929 and between 1931 and 1947.
, Weaver attended public schools, Weaver College, and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1894 and practiced law in Asheville, North Carolina
.
in 1906 and 1908 before being elected to the North Carolina Senate
in 1912, serving a single term. He was elected to the U.S. House from North Carolina's 10th congressional district
in 1916 and served for almost two years. His election was successfully contested by James J. Britt, who was seated for the last four days (between March 1, 1919 and March 4, 1919) of the 65th United States Congress
.
Weaver was then elected to four more Congresses until he was defeated for re-election in 1928 by Republican George M. Pritchard
. He recaptured his seat in 1930 and served eight more terms in Congress (1931–1947) until losing a battle for the renomination in 1946. He returned to practicing law in Asheville until his death in 1948. During his tenure in office, Weaver was responsible for the bill that resulted in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
.
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...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1917 and 1929 and between 1931 and 1947.
Early years and education
Born in Weaverville, North CarolinaWeaverville, North Carolina
Weaverville is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,646 in 2007. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Weaverville is located at ....
, Weaver attended public schools, Weaver College, and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1894 and practiced law in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
.
Political career
Weaver was elected to the North Carolina House of RepresentativesNorth Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
in 1906 and 1908 before being elected to the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
in 1912, serving a single term. He was elected to the U.S. House from North Carolina's 10th congressional district
North Carolina's 10th congressional district
The 10th Congressional District of North Carolina is a Congressional district in central and western North Carolina. It currently includes all of Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln and Mitchell counties, along with parts of Gaston, Iredell and Rutherford counties.The district is...
in 1916 and served for almost two years. His election was successfully contested by James J. Britt, who was seated for the last four days (between March 1, 1919 and March 4, 1919) of the 65th United States Congress
65th United States Congress
The Sixty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1917 to March 4, 1919, during the fourth and fifth...
.
Weaver was then elected to four more Congresses until he was defeated for re-election in 1928 by Republican George M. Pritchard
George M. Pritchard
George Moore Pritchard was a lawyer, Republican politician, and one-term U.S. representative from North Carolina. He was the son of Senator Jeter C. Pritchard....
. He recaptured his seat in 1930 and served eight more terms in Congress (1931–1947) until losing a battle for the renomination in 1946. He returned to practicing law in Asheville until his death in 1948. During his tenure in office, Weaver was responsible for the bill that resulted in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
.