Richard Hanson Weightman
Richard Hanson Weightman | |
---|---|
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico Territory's at-large district | |
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | |
Preceded by | William S. Messervy |
Succeeded by | José Manuel Gallegos |
Personal details | |
Born | December 28, 1816 Washington, D.C. |
Died | August 10, 1861 near Springfield, Missouri | (aged 44)
Resting place | Springfield National Cemetery[1] |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Susan Bradford Coxe |
Parent |
|
Alma mater | University of Virginia |
Occupation | Newspaper editor |
Military service | |
Allegiance | |
Branch/service | |
Years of service |
|
Rank | |
Unit | Missouri State Guard |
Battles/wars | |
Richard Hanson Weightman (December 28, 1816 – August 10, 1861) was an
Early life and education
Born in
Mexican-American War
Weightman moved to
Later career
He moved to New Mexico Territory in 1851 and edited a newspaper in Santa Fe. He was appointed agent for Indians in New Mexico in July 1851.[2]
Fight with F.X. Aubry
While in Santa Fe in August 1854, he killed François Xavier Aubry (December 3, 1824 – August 18, 1854) who was a French Canadian merchant and explorer of the American Southwest. When Aubry drew his revolver, Weightman stabbed Aubry with a Bowie knife.[4]
Congressional delegate
Weightman was elected as a Democrat as the New Mexico Territory's Delegate to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1852.
Civil War and death
After leaving Congress, he went back to newspaper work. In 1858 he moved to Kickapoo and Atchison, Kansas, and in 1861 to Independence, Missouri.[2]
On June 11, 1861, Weightman was elected as
Colonel Richard Hanson Weightman was killed while leading his brigade at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri on August 10, 1861, and was buried on the battlefield near Springfield, Missouri.[2]
Notes
- ^ "Col Richard Hanson Weightman". Find A Grave. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Weightman, Richard Hanson". United States Congress. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ISBN 9780786476480.
- ^ Twitchell, Ralph Emerson (1909). The History of the Military Occupation of the Territory of New Mexico. Arno Press. p. 386.
References
- United States Congress. "Richard Hanson Weightman (id: W000255)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on May 11, 2009.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress