Rep. Richard Clough Anderson, Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Clough_Anderson,_Jr

Richard Clough Anderson, Jr. (August 4, 1788 – July 24, 1826) was an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat from Jefferson County, Kentucky. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky.

Anderson was born at 'Soldiers’ Retreat' near Louisville, Kentucky. His father was a Revolutionary War captain in the 5th Virginia continentals, who led the advance of the Americans at the battle of Trenton (24 December 1776), crossing the Delaware River in the first boat.

Anderson attended private schools, later graduating from William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1804. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar, practicing law in Louisville.

Anderson was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1815 and then was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1816 and 1818, serving in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses from March 4, 1817 through March 3, 1821. While in Congress Anderson served as the chairman of the House Committee on Public Lands in the Sixteenth Congress. Anderson did not seek reelection to the House in 1820. He later served again as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1821 and 1822 and served as Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1822.

Anderson was appointed as the first United States Minister to the Republic of Colombia on January 27, 1823. He took his leave from that post on June 7, 1823 after being commissioned as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Panama Congress of Nations. Anderson died en route to his post in Turbaco, near Cartagena, Colombia on July 24, 1826. He is buried at 'Soldiers’ Retreat' near Louisville.

Anderson County, Kentucky is named in his honor.

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http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000230

ANDERSON, Richard Clough, Jr., a Representative from Kentucky; born at ‘Soldiers’ Retreat,’ near Louisville, Ky., August 4, 1788; attended private schools; was graduated from William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va., in 1804; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Louisville; member of the State house of representatives in 1815; elected as a Republican to the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses (March 4, 1817-March 3, 1821); chairman, Committee on Public Lands (Sixteenth Congress); declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1820; again a member of the State house of representatives, in 1821 and 1822, serving as speaker the latter year; appointed the first United States Minister to the Republic of Colombia January 27, 1823; took his leave June 7, 1823, having been commissioned Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Panama Congress of Nations, but died, en route to his post, in Turbaco, near Cartagena, Colombia, July 24, 1826; interment at ‘Soldiers’ Retreat,’ near Louisville, Ky.

Bibliography

Rubenstein, Asa L. “Richard Clough Anderson, Nathaniel Massie, and the Impact of Government on Western Land Speculation and Settlement, 1774-1830.” Ph.D. diss., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1986.