List of members of the Confederate Senate
Encyclopedia
The Confederate Senate was the upper house of the Congress of the Confederate States of America
. Its members were, like those of the United States Senate
, elected for six year terms by the state legislature of each state, with each state having two senators. The Confederate Senate met only between 1862 and 1865.
In addition to the eleven states that made up the Confederacy, representatives were also seated from Kentucky
and Missouri
, which were never controlled by the Confederacy and remained in the Union throughout the war.
Members of the Confederate Senate were divided into classes by lot on February 21, 1862. Class one 1862-64 and 1864–70, Class two 1862-66, and Class three 1862-68 as follows:
Congress of the Confederate States
The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
. Its members were, like those of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, elected for six year terms by the state legislature of each state, with each state having two senators. The Confederate Senate met only between 1862 and 1865.
In addition to the eleven states that made up the Confederacy, representatives were also seated from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, which were never controlled by the Confederacy and remained in the Union throughout the war.
Members of the Confederate Senate were divided into classes by lot on February 21, 1862. Class one 1862-64 and 1864–70, Class two 1862-66, and Class three 1862-68 as follows:
Alabama
- Class 1
- Clement Claiborne ClayClement Claiborne ClayClement Claiborne Clay was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama from 1853 to 1861, and a C.S.A. senator from the Alabama from 1861 to 1863...
(AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
), 1862–1864 - Richard Wilde WalkerRichard Wilde WalkerRichard Wilde Walker was a prominent Confederate States of America politician.Walker was born and died in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the son of John Williams Walker, the brother of Percy Walker and LeRoy Pope Walker, and father of Richard Wilde Walker, Jr. Richard Walker, Sr...
(AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
), 1864–1865
- Clement Claiborne Clay
- Class 3
- William Lowndes YanceyWilliam Lowndes YanceyWilliam Lowndes Yancey was a journalist, politician, orator, diplomat and an American leader of the Southern secession movement. A member of the group known as the Fire-Eaters, Yancey was one of the most effective agitators for secession and rhetorical defenders of slavery. An early critic of...
(AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
), 1862–1863 - Robert Jemison, Jr.Robert Jemison, Jr.Robert Jemison, Jr. was a Civil War era politician who voted against the secession of Alabama and later became the state's Confederate senator from 1863–1865.He also served in the Alabama General Assembly from 1837 until 1863. He used the Jr...
(AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
), 1863–1865
- William Lowndes Yancey
Arkansas
- Class 1
- Robert Ward JohnsonRobert Ward JohnsonRobert Ward Johnson was a Democratic United States Senator and Confederate States Senator from the State of Arkansas....
(ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
), 1862–1865
- Robert Ward Johnson
- Class 3
- Charles Burton Mitchel (ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
), 1862–1864 - Augustus Hill GarlandAugustus Hill GarlandAugustus Hill Garland was an Arkansas lawyer and politician. He was a senator in both the United States and the Confederate States, served as 11th Governor of Arkansas and as Attorney General of the United States in the first administration of Grover Cleveland.-Early life and law career:Garland...
(ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
), 1864–1865
- Charles Burton Mitchel (Arkansas
Florida
- Class 1
- James McNair BakerJames McNair BakerJames McNair Baker was a lawyer, politician, and Senator from Florida in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
), 1862–1865
- James McNair Baker
- Class 2
- Augustus Emmett Maxwell (FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
), 1862–1865
- Augustus Emmett Maxwell (Florida
Georgia
- Class 3
- Benjamin Harvey HillBenjamin Harvey HillBenjamin Harvey Hill was a U.S. Representative, U.S. senator and a Confederate senator from the state of Georgia.-Biography:Hill was born September 14, 1823 in Hillsboro, Georgia in Jasper County...
(GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
), 1862–1865
- Benjamin Harvey Hill
- Class 1
- John Wood Lewis (GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
), 1862–1863 (vice-Robert ToombsRobert ToombsRobert Augustus Toombs was an American political leader, United States Senator from Georgia, 1st Secretary of State of the Confederacy, and a Confederate general in the Civil War.-Early life:...
declined) - Herschel Vespasian JohnsonHerschel Vespasian JohnsonHerschel Vespasian Johnson was an American politician. He was the 41st Governor of Georgia from 1853 to 1857 and the vice-presidential nominee of the Douglas wing of the Democratic Party in the 1860 US presidential election....
(GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
), 1863–1865
- John Wood Lewis (Georgia
Kentucky
- Class 3
- Henry Cornelius BurnettHenry Cornelius BurnettHenry Cornelius Burnett was a U.S. Representative from the state of Kentucky and a Confederate States Senator. A lawyer by profession, Burnett had held only one public office—circuit court clerk—before being elected to Congress. He represented Kentucky's 1st congressional district during the...
(KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
), 1862–1865
- Henry Cornelius Burnett
- Class 1
- William Emmett Simms (KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
), 1862–1865
- William Emmett Simms (Kentucky
Louisiana
- Class 2
- Thomas Jenkins SemmesThomas Jenkins SemmesThomas Jenkins Semmes was a lawyer and politician in the state of Louisiana who served in the Confederate States Senate during much of the American Civil War....
(LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
), 1862–1865
- Thomas Jenkins Semmes
- Class 3
- Edward SparrowEdward SparrowEdward Sparrow was a prominent Confederate States of America politician.Sparrow was born in Dublin, Ireland. He represented Louisiana in the Provisional Confederate Congress from 1861 to 1862. Sparrow was a deputy in the Provisional Confederate Congress...
(LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
), 1862–1865
- Edward Sparrow
Mississippi
- Class 2
- Albert Gallatin Brown (MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
), 1862–1865
- Albert Gallatin Brown (Mississippi
- Class 1
- James PhelanJames Phelan, Sr.James Phelan, Sr., was a senator in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War from the state of Mississippi.-Biography:...
(MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
), 1862–1864 - John William Clark WatsonJohn William Clark WatsonClark Watson was a Confederate politician and judge.-External links:* at The Political Graveyard...
(MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
), 1864–1865
- James Phelan
Missouri
- Class 1
- John Bullock ClarkJohn Bullock ClarkJohn Bullock Clark, Sr. was a member of both the United States Congress and the Confederate Congress.-Biography:...
(MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
), 1862–1864 - George Graham VestGeorge Graham VestGeorge Graham Vest was a U.S. politician. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, he was known for his skills in oration and debate. Vest, a lawyer as well as a politician, served as a Missouri Congressman, a Confederate Congressman during the Civil War, and finally a US Senator...
(MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
), 1865
- John Bullock Clark
- Class 2
- Robert Ludwell Yates PeytonRobert Ludwell Yates PeytonRobert Ludwell Yates Peyton was an American politician, soldier, and lawyer who served as an officer in the Confederate States Army and then as a member of the Confederate States Congress during the American Civil War-Biography:Peyton was born in Loudoun County, Virginia...
(MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
), 1862–1863 - Waldo Porter JohnsonWaldo P. JohnsonWaldo Porter Johnson was a United States Senator from Missouri, and later a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War....
(MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
), 1863–1865
- Robert Ludwell Yates Peyton
North Carolina
- Class 1
- George DavisGeorge Davis (politician)George Davis was a Confederate States of America political figure and the last Confederate Attorney General, serving from 1864 to 1865.He was not related to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.-Early life and career:...
(North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth 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...
), 1862–1864 - Edwin Godwin ReadeEdwin Godwin ReadeEdwin Godwin Reade was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1855 and 1857. He later served in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth 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...
), 1864 - William Alexander GrahamWilliam Alexander GrahamWilliam Alexander Graham was a United States Senator from North Carolina from 1840 to 1843, the 30th Governor of North Carolina from 1845 to 1849 and United States Secretary of the Navy from 1850 to 1852. He was also a candidate for the vice-presidency in 1852.-Education:Graham was born near...
(North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth 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...
), 1864–1865
- George Davis
- Class 2
- William Theophilus Dortch (North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth 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...
), 1862–1865
- William Theophilus Dortch (North Carolina
South Carolina
- Class 2
- Robert Woodward BarnwellRobert Woodward BarnwellRobert Woodward Barnwell was an American planter, lawyer, and educator from South Carolina who served as a Senator in both the United States Senate and that of the Confederate States of America.-Biography:...
(South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
), 1862–1865
- Robert Woodward Barnwell
- Class 3
- James Lawrence OrrJames Lawrence OrrJames Lawrence Orr was an American politician who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in the United States Congress...
(South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
), 1862–1865
- James Lawrence Orr
Tennessee
- Class 3
- Landon Carter HaynesLandon Carter Haynes, Sr.Landon Carter Haynes was a prominent Confederate politician during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(TennesseeTennesseeTennessee 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...
), 1862–1865
- Landon Carter Haynes
- Class 2
- Gustavus Adolphus Henry (TennesseeTennesseeTennessee 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...
), 1862–1865
- Gustavus Adolphus Henry (Tennessee
Texas
- Class 3
- William Simpson OldhamWilliam Simpson Oldham, Sr.William Simpson Oldham, Sr. was a politician in the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War....
(TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
), 1862–1865
- William Simpson Oldham
- Class 2
- Louis Trezevant Wigfall (TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
), 1862–1865
- Louis Trezevant Wigfall (Texas
Virginia
- Class 2
- William Ballard PrestonWilliam Ballard PrestonWilliam Ballard Preston was a United States political figure. He served as the U.S. Secretary of the Navy between 1849 and 1850...
(VirginiaVirginiaThe 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...
), 1862 - Allen T. CapertonAllen T. CapertonAllen Taylor Caperton was an American politician who was a United States Senator serving as a Democrat, as well as previous positions.-Early life:...
(VirginiaVirginiaThe 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...
), 1863–1865
- William Ballard Preston
- Class 3
- Robert Mercer Taliaferro HunterRobert 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...
(VirginiaVirginiaThe 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...
), 1862–1865
- Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter