United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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ALSTON, William Jeffreys

1800–1876

Office

Representative

State/Territory

Alabama

Party

Whig

Congress(es)

31st (1849–1851)

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Biography

ALSTON, William Jeffreys, a Representative from Alabama; born in Milledgeville, Ga., December 31, 1800; attended a private school in South Carolina; moved to Alabama and settled in Marengo County; taught school for several years; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Linden, Marengo County, in 1821; judge of the Marengo County Court for several years; member of the State house of representatives in 1837; served in the State senate 1839-1842; elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1851); was not a candidate for renomination in 1850; resumed the practice of his profession; again became a member of the State house of representatives, in 1855; engaged in agricultural pursuits; died in Magnolia, Marengo County, Ala., June 10, 1876; interment in Magnolia Cemetery.

View Record in the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

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External Research Collections

Alabama Department of Archives and History

Montgomery, AL
Papers: In the Alabama Governor (1849-1853 : Collier) Administrative files, 1848-1853, 1 cubic foot. Persons represented include William J. Alston.
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Bibliography / Further Reading

Alston, William Jeffreys. The slavery question. Speech of Hon. Wm. J. Alston, of Alabama, in the house of representatives, April 18, 1850, in Committee of the whole on the state of the Union, on the President's message transmitting the constitution of California. [Washington: Printed at the Congressional globe office, 1850].

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Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov