George R. Latham

For the architect, see George Latham (architect).
This article is about the Virginia politician and lawyer. For the football player, see George Latham (footballer).
George Robert Latham
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867
Preceded by William G. Brown
Succeeded by Bethuel Kitchen
Personal details
Born (1832-03-09)March 9, 1832
Hamarket, Virginia
Died December 16, 1917(1917-12-16) (aged 85)
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Political party Unconditional Unionist
Profession Politician, Lawyer

George Robert Latham (March 9, 1832 – December 16, 1917) was a 19th-century politician and lawyer from Virginia and West Virginia and colonel of the 2nd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

Biography

Born near Haymarket, Virginia, on March 9, 1832, Latham attended common schools as a child, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859, commencing practice in Grafton, Virginia (now West Virginia). He was a delegate to the Wheeling Convention in 1861 and served in the Union Army as captain of Company B of the 2nd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

Latham was promoted to colonel of the 6th West Virginia Cavalry but was court-martialed for neglect of duty in allowing New Creek Station, West Virginia to be captured by Confederates in late 1864 with almost no resistance. Although convicted and sentenced to be dismissed from the service he was nonetheless returned to duty and brevetted brigadier general on March 13, 1865.[1] He was elected an Unconditional Unionist to the United States House of Representatives in 1864, serving from 1865 to 1867. Afterwards, he was appointed consul at Melbourne, Australia in 1867, serving until 1870, was school superintendent of Upshur County, West Virginia from 1875 to 1877 and supervisor of census for the first census division of West Virginia. Latham engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in Buckhannon, West Virginia on December 16, 1917. He was interred in Heavner Cemetery in Buckhannon.

References

  1. ↑ National Archives, RG 153, Entry 15A, Court martial case file NN-3449
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
William G. Brown Sr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 2nd congressional district
March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 		Succeeded by
Bethuel Kitchen


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