Leopold Copeland Parker Cowper (March 1811 – July 17, 1875) served as lieutenant governor of the Restored government of Virginia

Restored government of Virginia

The Restored Government of Virginia, or the Reorganized Government of Virginia, was the Unionist government of Virginia during the American Civil War. From 1861 until mid-1863 it met in Wheeling, and from 26 August 1863 until June 1865 it met in Alexandria...

 from November 1863 until June 1865 and then as lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from June 1865 until September 1869.

Early life

Cowper was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. His parents separated a year after his birth. In January 1817 his mother, Ann Pierce Parker Cowper, daughter of former congressman Josiah Parker

Josiah Parker

Josiah Parker was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia in the First through Sixth United States Congresses.-Life:...

, was granted a legal separation by the Virginia General Assembly, and she received legal custody of her children. Cowper practiced law in Portsmouth and Norfolk County. A Whig, he served two consecutive terms in 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...

, 1847–1848 and 1848–1849.

Lieutenant governor

In May 1863 Cowper was selected as candidate for lieutenant governor of the Restored government to replace a candidate from Berkeley County

Berkeley County, West Virginia

Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...

 who had withdrawn. Although the candidates for governor and attorney general were unopposed, Cowper was challenged by Gilbert S. Miner, whom he defeated in the election held on May 28, 1863. Although Cowper was not slated to assume his new office until January 1864, Governor Francis Harrison Pierpont appointed him lieutenant governor on November 17, 1863, after the sitting lieutenant governor, Daniel Polsley

Daniel Polsley

Daniel Haymond Polsley was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer, judge and editor from Virginia and West Virginia....

, resigned. As lieutenant governor, Cowper presided over a state senate that consisted at full strength of six members, representing the districts of Accomack

Accomack County, Virginia

As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...

 and Northampton

Northampton County, Virginia

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...

 Counties, Alexandria

Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...

 and Fairfax

Fairfax County, Virginia

Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...

 Counties, Elizabeth City County

Elizabeth City County, Virginia

Elizabeth City County was a county in southeastern Virginia from 1634 to 1952. Originally created in 1634 as Elizabeth River Shire, it was one of eight shires created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. In 1636, it was subdivided, and the portion north of the harbor of Hampton...

 and the city of Hampton

Hampton, Virginia

Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...

, Loudoun County, the city of Norfolk

Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....

, and Norfolk

Norfolk County, Virginia

Norfolk County was a county of the South Hampton Roads in eastern Virginia in the United States that was created in 1691. After the American Civil War, for a period of about 100 years, portions of Norfolk County were lost and the territory of the county reduced as they became parts of the separate...

 and Princess Anne

Princess Anne County, Virginia

Princess Anne County is a former county which was created in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States in 1691. The county was merged into the city of Virginia Beach...

 Counties.

Later life

Cowper died in 1875 and was buried at Macclesfield, his family's estate at Smithfield in Isle of Wight County.

Source

• John T. Kneebone et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography
  Dictionary of Virginia Biography
  The Dictionary of Virginia Biography is a multivolume biographical reference work published by the Library of Virginia covering all aspects of Virginia's history and culture since 1607....
  
  (Richmond: The Library of Virginia, 1998- ), 3:497-499. ISBN 0-88490-206-4