Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb facts for kids
Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb (born June 8, 1807 – died November 1, 1864) was an American politician. He represented the state of Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1861.
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Early Life and Political Start
Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb was born on June 8, 1807, in Rhea County, Tennessee. When he was just two years old, in 1809, he moved with his father to Bellefonte, which is in Jackson County, Alabama.
Cobb did not get a lot of formal schooling. He started his career working as a traveling salesman, selling clocks. He also worked as a merchant in Bellefonte. Later, he became interested in politics. In 1844, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives.
Serving in the U.S. Congress
In 1846, Cobb was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He represented Alabama's sixth congressional district. This district included areas like Huntsville and the mountain counties in northeast Alabama.
Cobb was very popular with ordinary people. He was re-elected six more times. He often won against richer and more educated opponents. Even though he owned enslaved people, he spoke out against the wealthy elite. This helped him gain support from poorer people.
Views on the Union and Secession
Cobb strongly believed in keeping the United States together. He was against the idea of states leaving the Union, which is called secession. When Alabama decided to leave the Union in 1861, he was very sad to leave Congress.
Cobb and the Confederate Congress
After Alabama seceded, Cobb tried to get elected to the Confederate House of Representatives in 1861, but he did not win. However, in 1863, he was elected to the Second Confederate Congress. This happened when many people were growing tired of the war.
Even after being elected, Cobb did not go to take his seat in the Confederate Congress. He was known for still supporting the United States (the Union). Because of his strong Unionist views, the Confederate House voted to remove him. They expelled him by a unanimous vote.
His Final Days
Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb died on November 1, 1864. He was killed by accident when his own pistol went off. This happened while he was putting up a fence on his farm near Bellefonte. He was buried in his family's cemetery. This cemetery was on his brother's property in nearby Madison County.
