Elliott M. Braxton
Encyclopedia
Elliott Muse Braxton was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia
. He was the great-grandson of Carter Braxton
.
, Braxton attended the common schools as a child, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849, commencing in Richmond, Virginia
. He moved to Richmond County, Virginia
and served in the Virginia Senate from 1852 to 1856. He later moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia
in 1860 and continued his practicing law. At the outbreak of the Civil War
, Braxton raised a company for the Confederate Army
and was elected its captain. He was later promoted to a major
and served in the staff of General John R. Cooke. After the war, Braxton was elected a member of the common council of Fredericksburg in 1866 and was later elected a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1870, serving from 1871 to 1873. After being unsuccessful for reelection in 1872, Braxton resumed practicing law in Fredericksburg until his death their on October 2, 1891. He was interned there in the Confederate 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...
. He was the great-grandson of Carter Braxton
Carter Braxton
Carter Braxton was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, a planter, and a representative of Virginia....
.
Biography
Born in Mathews, VirginiaMathews, Virginia
Mathews is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Mathews County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 555. Established around 1700, the small town of Westville was designated as the county seat in 1791. In modern times, it is variously known as Mathews...
, Braxton attended the common schools as a child, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849, commencing in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. He moved to Richmond County, Virginia
Richmond County, Virginia
Richmond County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 9,254. Its county seat is Warsaw. The rural county should not be confused with the large city and state capital Richmond, Virginia, which is over...
and served in the Virginia Senate from 1852 to 1856. He later moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
in 1860 and continued his practicing law. 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...
, Braxton raised a company for the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and was elected its captain. He was later promoted to a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and served in the staff of General John R. Cooke. After the war, Braxton was elected a member of the common council of Fredericksburg in 1866 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...
in 1870, serving from 1871 to 1873. After being unsuccessful for reelection in 1872, Braxton resumed practicing law in Fredericksburg until his death their on October 2, 1891. He was interned there in the Confederate Cemetery.