Christopher Harris Williams

Christopher Harris "Kit" Williams[1] (December 18, 1798 – November 27, 1857) was an American politician who represented Tennessee's United States House of Representatives, thirteenth and United States House of Representatives, eleventh districts in the United States House of Representatives.

Christopher Harris Williams
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 13th district
In office
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
Preceded byWilliam C. Dunlap
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 11th district
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Preceded byWilliam T. Haskell
Succeeded byDistrict eliminated
Personal details
BornDecember 18, 1798
Hillsborough, North Carolina
DiedNovember 27, 1857(1857-11-27) (aged 58)
Lexington, Tennessee
Political partyWhig
SpouseJane Allison Williams
Children
  • Mary Ann Williams
  • Ede Harris Williams
  • James Allison Williams
  • Duke Williams
  • Christopher Harris Williams Jr.
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina
Profession

Biography

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Williams was born near Hillsborough, North Carolina, on December 18, 1798. He pursued an academic course and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied law, was admitted to the bar about 1820, and practiced law.[2] He married Jane Allison on December 9, 1819.[3]

Career

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Williams was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-seventh Congresses by Tennessee's thirteenth district. He served from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1843.[4] He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1842 to the Twenty-eighth Congress.

After the number of districts held by Tennessee had been reduced, Williams was elected by Tennessee's eleventh district to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses. He served from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1853.[5] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1852. He resumed the practice of law in Lexington, Tennessee.

Death

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Williams died in Lexington on November 27, 1857. He is interred at Lexington Cemetery.[6]

Williams' son and namesake (born 1830) was a Colonel in the Confederate army in the American Civil War who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. His grandson was John Sharp Williams, who also served in the American House and Senate.

References

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  1. ^ "The Williams-Sharp Family Bible". Williams-Sharp Family Bible. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Christopher Harris Williams". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. ^ "The Williams-Sharp Family Bible". Williams-Sharp Family Bible. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Christopher Harris Williams". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Christopher Harris Williams". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Christopher Harris Williams". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 13th congressional district

1837–1843
Succeeded by
District eliminated
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 11th congressional district

1849–1853
Succeeded by
District eliminated