William Evans Arthur

For the Australian politician, see William Arthur (Australian politician).

William Evans Arthur (March 3, 1825 – May 18, 1897) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.

William Evans Arthur
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 6th district
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	Thomas Laurens Jones
Succeeded by	Thomas Laurens Jones
Personal details
Born	(1825-03-03)March 3, 1825 Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Died	May 18, 1897(1897-05-18) (aged 72) Covington, Kentucky, US
Resting place	Linden Grove Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Addie Southgate Etha Southgate
Relations	Son-in-law of William Wright Southgate
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Early life and family

William E. Arthur was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 3, 1825.^[1] He was the son of William and Eliza (Parsons) Arthur.^[2] In 1832, the family moved to Covington, Kentucky.^[2] Two years later, Arthur's father died.^[2]

Arthur received his early education in private schools and from private tutors in Covington and Harford County, Maryland.^[2] He then studied law under John W. Stevenson and James Turner Morehead.^[2] He was admitted to the bar in 1850 and commenced practice in Covington.^[1]

In 1855, Arthur married Addie Southgate, daughter of former Congressman William Wright Southgate.^[2] His first wife died in 1858, and in December 1860, Arthur married her younger sister Etha Southgate.^[2] The couple had two children – a son named Sidney and a daughter named May.^[2]

Political career

In 1856, Arthur was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for the ninth judicial district for a term of six years.^[2] He served as presidential elector on the Democratic ticket of John C. Breckinridge and Joseph Lane in the 1860 presidential election.^[1]

In 1866, Arthur was elected criminal judge of the ninth circuit served until 1868, when he resigned.^[2] He was elected to represent the Sixth District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1870.^[2] During the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875), he served on the House Committees on Elections and Railways and Canals.^[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1874.^[1]

Later life and death

After the expiration of his congressional term, he resumed the practice of law in Covington.^[1] In August 1886, he was elected judge of the twelfth judicial circuit of Kentucky and served until the expiration of his term on January 1, 1893.^[2] He resumed his law practice until his death in Covington on May 18, 1897.^[1] He was interred in Linden Grove Cemetery.^[1]