Matthias Ward

Matthias Ward ( born October 13, 1805 Elbert County, Georgia; † October 5, 1861 in Raleigh, North Carolina ) was an American politician.

Life

Matthias Ward grew up in Madison County ( Alabama), where he graduated from the College in Huntsville. After working two years as a teacher, he studied law. In 1836 he moved to Texas and settled first in Montague County down before in Clarksville in Red River County in 1845, he found his new home.

Political career

Ward served several years in the Congress of the Republic of Texas, and was elected as a Democrat in 1849 for a term in the Senate of Texas. The early 1850s were marked by a series of failures. So ran Ward in 1851 for the office of lieutenant-governor of Texas and in 1855 for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; both times, however, he suffered a defeat.

Ward was still as popular Democrat who represented his party in 1852 at the Congress of Baltimore and 1856 on that in Cincinnati. In addition, he was appointed as party leader in 1856 the Texas Democrats.

After the death of U.S. Senator James Pinckney Henderson in June 1858 Ward was determined to be his successor and served on 27 September 1858 to 5 December 1859. A renewed candidacy for the office of U.S. Senator was unsuccessful.

Late life

Matthias Ward died two years after his retirement from the Senate in Raleigh. His grave is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Although nothing is known about Ward's private life, but we know that he had been a member of the Freemasons.