William GASTON, Congress, NC (1778-1844)

GASTON William , a Representative from North Carolina; born in New Bern, N.C., September 19, 1778; entered Georgetown College, Washington, D.C., at the age of thirteen; later returned to his native State and became a student in the Academy of New Bern; was graduated from Princeton College in 1796; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1798 and commenced practice in New Bern; member of the State senate in 1800; served in the State house of representatives 1807-1809, and as speaker in 1808; again a member of the State senate in 1812, 1818, and 1819; elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1817); was not a candidate for renomination in 1816; again served in the State house of representatives in 1824, 1827, 1828, 1829, and 1831; appointed judge of the supreme court of North Carolina in 1833, holding the position until his death; member of the State constitutional convention in 1835; declined a nomination for election to the United States Senate in 1840; died in Raleigh, N.C., January 23, 1844; interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern, N.C.

Bibliography

Schauinger, Joseph Herman. William Gaston, Carolinian. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing, 1949.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present