David T. Patterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Trotter Patterson
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Senator from Tennessee |
|
| In office July 28, 1866 – March 3, 1869 |
|
| Preceded by | Andrew Johnson |
| Succeeded by | William Gannaway Brownlow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 28, 1818 Greene County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 1891 (aged 73) Afton, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Resting place | Andrew Johnson National Cemetery Greeneville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Martha Johnson Patterson
(m. 1855) |
| Children | 2 |
David Trotter Patterson (February 28, 1818 – November 3, 1891) was a U.S. Senator from Tennessee. He served during the start of the Reconstruction period, which was a time when the United States was rebuilding after the American Civil War.
David Patterson was a strong supporter of the Union (the northern states during the Civil War). Many people in East Tennessee felt the same way. He was chosen by the Tennessee General Assembly (the state's law-making group) to be a U.S. Senator. This happened when Tennessee was allowed back into the Union on July 24, 1866. Tennessee was the first state from the former Confederacy (the southern states that left the Union) to rejoin. He officially became a senator on July 28, 1866.
Contents
David Trotter Patterson: A Senator from Tennessee
Early Life and Learning
David Trotter Patterson was born on February 28, 1818. His birthplace was Cedar Creek, near Greeneville, Tennessee. He went to regular schools when he was young. Later, he studied at Greeneville College for two years. To become a lawyer, he learned about law from a local attorney.
His Work and Life
In 1841, David Patterson became a lawyer and started working in Greeneville. He also worked in factories. Like many landowners at the time, he had enslaved people working on his property. From 1854 to 1863, he served as a judge for the first circuit court in Tennessee. He also bought a lot of land in East Tennessee. On his land, he grew crops to sell.
Family Life
On December 13, 1855, David Patterson married Martha Johnson. Martha was the daughter of Andrew Johnson and Eliza McCardle. David and Martha had two children. Their son was named Andrew (1857–1932). Their daughter was named Mary (1859–1891).
Time in Politics
David Patterson was a Unionist from East Tennessee. He was elected by the Tennessee General Assembly to the U.S. Senate. This happened when Tennessee became the first former Confederate state to rejoin the Union. This was on July 24, 1866. His father-in-law, Andrew Johnson, had become President of the United States after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated the year before.
The Impeachment Trial
President Andrew Johnson faced an impeachment process by the United States House of Representatives in February 1868. This caused a personal problem for Senator Patterson. The U.S. Constitution says the Senate must hold a trial for a president who is impeached. The Senate held President Johnson's trial from March to May 1868. To remove a president from office, two-thirds of the votes are needed. The vote was one short of this number. Senator Patterson believed that his father-in-law was not guilty. He also thought the accusations against him were not true. Most historians today agree with Senator Patterson's view.
After Politics
When his term as senator ended on March 3, 1869, David Patterson stopped working in politics. He went back to East Tennessee to take care of his large farms.
David Patterson died on November 3, 1891, in Afton. He was buried with the Johnson family. His resting place is the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greeneville.
