Willis Alston
Willis Alston | |
---|---|
Born | 1769 |
Died | April 10, 1837 | (aged 67–68)
Occupation(s) | Planter, politician |
Children | Ariella Hawkins |
Relatives | James Boyd Hawkins (son-in-law) |
Willis Alston Jr. (1769 – April 10, 1837) was a politician and planter from
Early life
Willis Alston was born in 1769 near Littleton in the Province of North Carolina.
Career
Alston engaged in agricultural pursuits at his
In 1798, Alston was elected as a
He returned to the state House of Commons between 1820 and 1824, and then returned to Washington in 1825, elected as a
Relationship with John Randolph
Alston and John Randolph of Roanoke had an intense dislike for each other, and once had a pitched fight in a Washington boarding house,[3] where heated words led to them throwing tableware at each other.[4] Six years later, they fought again in a stairwell at the House after Alston loudly referred to Randolph as a "puppy".[4] Randolph beat Alston bloody with his cane and the two had to be separated by other congressmen.[5] Randolph was fined $20 for this breach of the peace.[5]
Death and legacy
Alston died on April 10, 1837, in
In his will, he divided up ownership of his approximately 90 slaves among his family members.[2]
Notes
- ^ Alston-Pleasants Post-Graduate Scholars Fund: Willis "Congress" Alston" biography
- ^ a b "Butterwood Plantation, Halifax County, NC". www.ncgenweb.us. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ISBN 9780598912626.
- ^ a b A Biography of John Randolph, of Roanoke, p. 42.
- ^ a b A Biography of John Randolph, of Roanoke, pp. 42–43.
- ^ Alston-Pleasants Post-Graduate Scholars Fund: "Miss Missouri"
External links
- United States Congress. "Willis Alston (id: A000167)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- OurCampaigns.com