William J. Graves

William Jordan Graves (* 1805 in New Castle, Henry County, Kentucky; † September 27, 1848 in Louisville, Kentucky ) was an American politician. Between 1835 and 1841 he represented the state of Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

William Graves received a good basic education. After a subsequent study of law and qualifying as a lawyer, he began to work in this profession. At the same time he embarked on a political career. Graves was in opposition to the Democratic party of the incumbent president Andrew Jackson and in 1835 a member of the Whig party. In 1834 he became a deputy in the House of Representatives from Kentucky.

In the congressional elections of 1834, Graves was in the eighth electoral district of Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he succeeded the Democrat Patrick H. Pope took on 4 March 1835 he had defeated before. After two re- election he was able to complete in Congress until March 3, 1841 three legislative periods. These were intended to end the presidency of Andrew Jackson nor the controversy over his policies. It was in those years, especially the banking policy.

On February 24, 1838 came to a pistol duel between William Graves and Congressman Jonathan Cilley of Maine. This Cilley was killed. Graves was blamed in Congress for participating in the duel, but not excluded. The battle led to a passed in February 1839 law that it was forbidden in the federal district around the capital, Washington, unsubscribe duels. In 1840, William Graves gave up for reelection for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1843 he was again elected to the House of Representatives from Kentucky. He died on September 27, 1848 in Louisville.