Archibald Atkinson

Archibald Atkinson (September 15, 1792 – January 7, 1872) was an American lawyer and slave owner^[1] who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Virginia from 1843 to 1849. He was a veteran of the War of 1812.^[2]

Archibald Atkinson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	Francis Mallory
Succeeded by	John Millson
Member of the Virginia Senate from Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex Counties
In office 1839–1843
Preceded by	Joel Holleman
Succeeded by	William Spark
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Isle of Wight County
In office 1828–1830
Preceded by	John Chapman
Succeeded by	James Jordon
In office 1815–1816 Alongside John Lawrence
Personal details
Born	(1792-09-15)September 15, 1792 Isle of Wight County, Virginia
Died	January 7, 1872(1872-01-07) (aged 79) Smithfield, Virginia
Resting place	Old St. Luke's Church
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	College of William and Mary
Profession	lawyer, legislator
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Biography

Born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Atkinson received a liberal education.

Education and early career

He attended the law department of the College of William & Mary (now William & Mary Law School), Williamsburg, Virginia.^[2]

He served during the War of 1812 and was later admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Smithfield, Virginia.

Virginia legislature

He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1815 to 1817 and from 1828 to 1831, and served in the Virginia Senate from 1839 to 1843.

Congress

Atkinson was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, and Thirtieth Congresses (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1848 to the Thirty-first Congress.

In a valedictory speech to Congress in 1849, he described slavery as a "positive moral good" for those enslaved, claimed that the "well-fed, well-clad, contented negro of Virginia asks not your sympathy for him," and falsely claimed that slaves would rise up against abolitionists.^[3][4]

Later career and death

He served as prosecuting attorney for Isle of Wight County.

He died in Smithfield, Virginia, on January 7, 1872.^[4] He was interred in the graveyard of Old St. Luke's Church, four miles southeast of Smithfield.

Elections

• 1841; Atkinson lost his first election for the U.S. House of Representatives; he was defeated by Whig Francis Mallory, winning only 11.26% of the vote.
• 1843; Atkinson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 50.07% of the vote, defeating Whig James E. Langhorne.
• 1845; Atkinson was re-elected with 55.9% of the vote, defeating Whig R.H. Whitfield.
• 1847; Atkinson was re-elected with 50.82% of the vote, defeating Whig Samuel Watts.