John Millson

John Singleton Millson (October 1, 1808 – March 1, 1874) was an American lawyer and politician who served six consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from Virginia from 1849 to 1861.

For the mayor of Windsor, Ontario, see John Millson (Canadian politician).
John Singleton Millson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byRichard K. Meade
Succeeded byJames H. Platt, Jr.
(1870)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Preceded byArchibald Atkinson
Succeeded byThomas H. Bayly
Chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
In office
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853
Preceded byLoren P. Waldo
Succeeded byWilliam Montgomery Churchwell
Personal details
Born(1808-10-01)October 1, 1808
Norfolk, Virginia
DiedMarch 1, 1874(1874-03-01) (aged 65)
Norfolk, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationAttorney

Biography

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Millson pursued an academic course. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1829 and commenced practice in Norfolk.

Congress

Millson was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1861). He served as chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions (Thirty-second Congress).

He is notable as of one of only two Southern Democrats to have voted against the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the other being Thomas Hart Benton.

Later career

After leaving Congress. Millson resumed the practice of law. He died in Norfolk, Virginia, March 1, 1874. He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Electoral history
  • 1849; Millson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 51.67% of the vote, defeating a Whig identified only as Watts.
  • 1851; Millson was re-elected with 59.58% of the vote, defeating Whig Leopold C.P. Cowper.
  • 1853; Millson was re-elected with 56.68% of the vote, defeating Whig Johnathan R. Chambliss and Independent Democrat William D. Roberts.
  • 1855; Millson was re-elected with 53.29% of the vote, defeating American Party Watts.
  • 1857; Millson was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1859; Millson was re-elected with 61.46% of the vote, defeating Independents identified only as Pretlow, Chandler, and Sykes.

Sources
  • United States Congress. "John Millson (id: M000780)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


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