Archibald Atkinson

Archibald Atkinson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	Francis Mallory
Succeeded by	John Millson
Member of the Virginia Senate from Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex Counties
In office 1839–1843
Preceded by	Joel Holleman
Succeeded by	William Spark
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Isle of Wight County
In office 1828–1830
Preceded by	John Chapman
Succeeded by	James Jordon
In office 1815–1816 Alongside John Lawrence
Personal details
Born	(1792-09-15)September 15, 1792 Isle of Wight County, Virginia
Died	January 7, 1872(1872-01-07) (aged 79) Smithfield, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	College of William and Mary
Profession	lawyer, legislator
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Archibald Atkinson (September 15, 1792 – January 7, 1872) was a slave owner and U.S. Representative from Virginia.

Biography

Born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Atkinson received a liberal education. He attended the law department of the College of William & Mary (now the Marshall-Wythe School of Law), Williamsburg, Virginia. He served during the War of 1812. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Smithfield, Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1815–1817 and 1828–1831, and served in the Virginia Senate 1839–1843.

Atkinson was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, and Thirtieth Congresses (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1848 to the Thirty-first Congress. In a valedictory speech to Congress in 1849, he described slavery as a "positive moral good" for those enslaved, claimed that the "well-fed, well-clad, contented negro of Virginia asks not your sympathy for him," and falsely claimed that slaves would rise up against abolitionists.

He served as prosecuting attorney for Isle of Wight County. He died in Smithfield, Virginia, on January 7, 1872. He was interred in the graveyard of Old St. Luke's Church, four miles southeast of Smithfield.

Elections

• 1841; Atkinson lost his first election for the U.S. House of Representatives; he was defeated by Whig Francis Mallory, winning only 11.26% of the vote.
• 1843; Atkinson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 50.07% of the vote, defeating Whig James E. Langhorne.
• 1845; Atkinson was re-elected with 55.9% of the vote, defeating Whig R.H. Whitfield.
• 1847; Atkinson was re-elected with 50.82% of the vote, defeating Whig Samuel Watts.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Archibald Atkinson (id: A000328)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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