Background
Washington was born on November 10, 1851 on the family homestead, "Wessyngton," near Cedar Hill, Tennessee in Robertson County.
Washington was born on November 10, 1851 on the family homestead, "Wessyngton," near Cedar Hill, Tennessee in Robertson County.
He received his early instruction at home and graduated from Georgetown College in Washington, District of Columbia He studied law with the first law class organized at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1874.
On June 26, 1873. He was admitted to the bar, but never practiced, and he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and the four succeeding Congresses. He served from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1897, but he was not a candidate for renomination in 1896.
He was the chairman of the United States House Committee on Territories during the Fifty-second Congress.
Appointed road commissioner, Washington had charge of road construction work of Robertson County. He resumed agricultural pursuits upon the family homestead, "Wessyngton," in Robertson County, Tennessee.
Washington died on August 28, 1915, (aged 63) on the family estate. He is interred at the family burying ground on his estate.
From 1877 to 1879 Washington was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Vanderbilt University and a director of the Nashville, Chattanooga & Saint Louis and Nashville & Decatur Railroads.