US Congressman. He was born one of five children (he also had three brothers and one sister), in Amherst County, Virginia, to Dr. James Powell and his wife Mildred Irving Powell in 1809 (his exact birthdate is unknown). He was educated locally and attended private schools. He later attended the prestigious Amherst College in Amherst, Virginia. Following his education, he entered politics and served in several locally held offices. He was then elected and served a term in the Virginia State Legislature in 1840, and in the Virginia State House of Delegates from 1843 to 1849. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1848. A Member of the Democratic Party, he then served Virginia's 5th District and 6th District (Thirty-First Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1859. He was not a Candidate for reelection to the Thirty-Sixth Congress in 1858. After his term in the United States Congress expired for the 5th District from (March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853), he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Thomas Salem Bocock on March 3, 1853, and when his term in the United States Congress expired for the 6th District from (March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1859), he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Shelton Farrar Leake on March 3, 1859. He passed away from a lingering illness in Amherst, Virginia, on June 10, 1874, (newspaper obituaries of the time say he passed away on April 28, 1874), at the age of about 64 or 65. He was buried on the 'Kenmore Estate,' in a private cemetery on land that was owned by his brother-in-law. He apparently never married or had any children.
US Congressman. He was born one of five children (he also had three brothers and one sister), in Amherst County, Virginia, to Dr. James Powell and his wife Mildred Irving Powell in 1809 (his exact birthdate is unknown). He was educated locally and attended private schools. He later attended the prestigious Amherst College in Amherst, Virginia. Following his education, he entered politics and served in several locally held offices. He was then elected and served a term in the Virginia State Legislature in 1840, and in the Virginia State House of Delegates from 1843 to 1849. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1848. A Member of the Democratic Party, he then served Virginia's 5th District and 6th District (Thirty-First Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1859. He was not a Candidate for reelection to the Thirty-Sixth Congress in 1858. After his term in the United States Congress expired for the 5th District from (March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853), he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Thomas Salem Bocock on March 3, 1853, and when his term in the United States Congress expired for the 6th District from (March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1859), he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Shelton Farrar Leake on March 3, 1859. He passed away from a lingering illness in Amherst, Virginia, on June 10, 1874, (newspaper obituaries of the time say he passed away on April 28, 1874), at the age of about 64 or 65. He was buried on the 'Kenmore Estate,' in a private cemetery on land that was owned by his brother-in-law. He apparently never married or had any children.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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