Elliott M. Braxton

Elliott Muse Braxton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1871 March 3, 1873
Preceded by Lewis McKenzie
Succeeded by John T. Harris
Member of the Virginia Senate from Richmond, Lancaster, Northumberland and Westmoreland Counties
In office
1852–1857
Preceded by District established
Succeeded by Richard L. T. Beale
Personal details
Born (1823-10-08)October 8, 1823
Mathews, Virginia
Died October 2, 1891(1891-10-02) (aged 67)
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Political party Democratic
Profession Politician, Lawyer

Elliott Muse Braxton (October 8, 1823 October 2, 1891) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the great-grandson of Carter Braxton.

Biography

Born in Mathews, Virginia, Braxton attended the common schools as a child, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849, commencing in Richmond, Virginia. He moved to Richmond County, Virginia and served in the Virginia Senate from 1852 to 1856. He later moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1860 and continued practicing law. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Braxton raised a company for the Confederate Army and was elected its captain. He was later promoted to a major and served in the staff of General John R. Cooke. After the war, Braxton was democratically elected a member of the common council of Fredericksburg in 1866 and was later elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1870, serving from 1871 to 1873. After being unsuccessful for reelection in 1872, Braxton resumed practicing law in Fredericksburg until his death there on October 2, 1891. He was interred there in the Confederate Cemetery.

1870 and 1872 elections

Braxton was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (7th district) over Republican incumbent Lewis McKenzie by a margin of 53-47%. Following redistricting, he ran in the 1st district against Republican James B. Sener, this time losing by a narrow margin of 49-51% (373 votes).

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by
District established
Virginia Senate
1852-1857
Succeeded by
Richard L. T. Beale
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Lewis McKenzie
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 7th congressional district

March 4, 1871 March 3, 1873
Succeeded by
John T. Harris
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