Fayette McMullen

LaFayette "Fayette" McMullen (May 18, 1805 – November 8, 1880) was a 19th-century politician, driver, teamster and banker from the U.S. state of Virginia and the second appointed Governor of Washington Territory.

LaFayette McMullen
2nd Governor of Washington Territory
In office September 10, 1857 – July 15, 1859
Preceded by	Isaac Stevens
Succeeded by	Richard D. Gholson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th district
In office March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1857
Preceded by	Andrew S. Fulton
Succeeded by	George W. Hopkins
Member of the Virginia Senate
In office 1839–1849
Personal details
Born	(1805-05-18)May 18, 1805 Estillville, Virginia, US
Died	November 8, 1880(1880-11-08) (aged 75) Wytheville, Virginia, US
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Wood McMullen
Profession	Politician, driver, teamster, banker

Early life and family

Born in Estillville, Virginia, McMullen attended private schools as a child. He was a Virginia driver and teamster, working in the family owned business and driving a coach. He married Mary (Polly) Wood, daughter of the sheriff, in 1826. They had no children.^[1]

Career

McMullen became a member of the Senate of Virginia in 1839, serving until 1849. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1848, serving from 1849 to 1857. There, McMullen served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy from 1851 to 1855 and chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings from 1855 to 1857. McMullen was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1852 and 1856.

McMullen was appointed by President James Buchanan, as Territorial Governor of Washington in 1857, serving until 1859.

McMullen was elected as a Democrat to the Confederate House of Representatives in 1863, serving from 1864 until the crumbling of the Confederacy in 1865. Afterwards, he engaged in agricultural and banking pursuits and unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Virginia in 1878.

Death

McMullen died in a train accident on November 8, 1880, in Wytheville, Virginia, and is interred at Round Hill Cemetery in Marion, Virginia.^[2]