William Dunbar (politician)

William Dunbar (1805 – March 18, 1861) was a U.S. Representative from Louisiana.

William Dunbar
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855
Preceded byLouis St. Martin
Succeeded byGeorge Eustis Jr.
Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
In office
September 1, 1852 – May 4, 1853
Preceded byIsaac Trimble Preston
Succeeded byAbner Nash Ogden
Personal details
Born1805
Virginia
DiedMarch 18, 1861(1861-03-18) (aged 55–56)
St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic

He was born in Virginia in 1805 and completed preparatory studies before moving to Alexandria, Virginia, where he engaged in the practice of law in the early 1830s. Dunbar moved to Louisiana in 1852 and was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Preston and served from September 1, 1852, to May 4, 1853.[1] He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855) representing Louisiana's 1st congressional district. Defeated by a "Know-Nothing" candidate after one term, Rep. Dunbar retired to his sugar plantation in St. Bernard Parish and resided there until his death on March 18, 1861.

References edit

  1. ^ Celebration of the Centenary of the Supreme Court of Louisiana (March 1, 1913), in John Wymond, Henry Plauché Dart, eds., The Louisiana Historical Quarterly (1922), p. 118.
  • United States Congress. "William Dunbar (id: D000526)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court
1852–1853
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 1st congressional district

1853 – 1855
Succeeded by