Willis Alston

Willis Alston
Born 1769
Halifax County, North Carolina, U.S.
Died April 10, 1837
Halifax, North Carolina, U.S.
Residence Butterwood
Occupation Planter, politician
Children Ariella Hawkins
Relatives James Boyd Hawkins (son-in-law)

Willis Alston (1769 – April 10, 1837) was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1825 and 1831. He was the nephew of Nathaniel Macon.[1]

Early life

Willis Alston was born in 1769 near Littleton, North Carolina, in Halifax County.

Career

Alston engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons in 1790 and served for two years; in 1794 he was elected to a single term in the North Carolina Senate.

In 1798, Alston was elected as a Federalist to the U.S. House, defeating incumbent Thomas Blount and two other candidates. Alston served from March 4, 1799, to March 4, 1815. Early in the Jefferson administration, Alston changed parties and became affiliated with the Republican Party. Local Federalists recruited former Gov. William R. Davie to challenge Alston in 1803, but Alston survived Davie's challenge. Alston chaired the House Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business during the 13th U.S. Congress. In the election of April 1813, Alston defeated Daniel Mason, the Peace candidate, with the smallest margin of his re-election campaigns (56%-44%), and Alston retired at the end of the term.

He returned to the state House of Commons between 1820 and 1824, and then returned to Washington in 1825, elected as a Jacksonian Democrat. Serving three terms (March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1831), Alston chaired the Committee on Elections during the 21st Congress. He declined to seek re-election in 1830 and returned to agriculture.

Death and legacy

Alston died on April 10, 1837 in Halifax and is buried at his plantation home of Butterwood, near Littleton. His granddaughter, Missouri Alston Pleasants, established the Alston-Pleasants scholarship fund in his memory.[2]

Notes

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Thomas Blount
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 9th congressional district

1799–1803
Succeeded by
Marmaduke Williams
Preceded by
Matthew Locke
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 2nd congressional district

1803–1815
Succeeded by
Joseph H. Bryan
Preceded by
George Outlaw
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 2nd congressional district

1825-1831
Succeeded by
John Branch
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