William B. Calhoun

William Barron Calhoun (December 29, 1796 – November 8, 1865) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.

William B. Calhoun
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 8th district
In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Isaac C. Bates
Succeeded by	John Quincy Adams
5th Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts[1]
In office 1859[1] – 1859[1]
Preceded by	Ansel Phelps, Jr.
Succeeded by	Daniel L Harris
28th President[1] of the Massachusetts Senate[1]
In office 1846[1] – 1847[1]
Preceded by	Levi Lincoln Jr.
Succeeded by	Zeno Scudder
10th Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
In office January 1848[2] – 1851[2]
Governor	George N. Briggs
Preceded by	John G. Palfrey
Succeeded by	Amasa Walker
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1828–1834
Preceded by	William C. Jarvis
Succeeded by	Julius Rockwell
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1825–1834
In office 1861[1] – 1861[1][2]
Personal details
Born	William Barron Calhoun December 29, 1796[1]
Died	November 8, 1865 (aged 78) Springfield, Massachusetts[2]
Political party	Anti-Jacksonian, Whig
Spouse(s)	Margaret Howard[2]

Early life

Calhoun, the eldest child of Andrew Calhoun and Martha (Chamberlain) Calhoun,[3] was born on December 29, 1796 in Boston, Massachusetts.[3] Calhoun graduated from Yale College[2] in 1814.

After his graduation from Yale, Calhoun studied law, first in Concord, New Hampshire,[3] and later in Springfield, Massachusetts.[2] Calhoun was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Springfield.

Calhoun served as member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1825-1834, serving as speaker 1828-1834.[1]

Election to Congress

Calhoun was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and as a Whig to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1843). Calhoun served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-sixth Congress). Calhoun was not a candidate for renomination in 1842.

Post Congressional career

In 1844 Calhoun was a Presidential Elector for Henry Clay.[2]

Calhoun served as member of the Massachusetts Senate in 1846 and 1847, serving as its president. He served as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1848-1851 and State bank commissioner from 1853 to 1855. He served as mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts in 1859.[1] He was again a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1861.[1]

Death and interment

Calhoun died in Springfield, Massachusetts, November 8, 1865, he was interred in Springfield Cemetery.

See also

• 53rd Massachusetts General Court (1832)
• 54th Massachusetts General Court (1833)
• 55th Massachusetts General Court (1834)
• 68th Massachusetts General Court (1847)

References

• United States Congress. "William B. Calhoun (id: C000046)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• William B. Calhoun at Find a Grave
• Yale Obituary Record

Notes

1. Davis, William Thomas (1895), Bench and Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Volume I, Boston, MA: The Boston History Company, p. 448
2. Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1912), Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College With Annals of the College History, Vol. VI September; 1805 - September; 1815, New Haven, Ct: Yale University Press, p. 629
3. Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1912), Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College With Annals of the College History, Vol. VI September; 1805 - September; 1815, New Haven, Ct: Yale University Press, p. 628

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.