Background
Parker was born at ‘Rock Spring,’ Westmoreland County, Virginia, son of Captain William Harwar Parker and Mary (Sturman) Parker, and grandson of Judge Richard Parker and Elizabeth (Beale) Parker.
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Richard Elliott
Edit Profilelawyer politician United States senator
Education
He studied law under his grandfather Parker at ‘Lawfield,’ his grandfather"s residence in Westmoreland County.
Career
Parker served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the United States Senate, before later serving on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. After being admitted to the bar, he practiced in Westmoreland, his native county, which he represented in the Virginia House of Delegates. During the War of 1812, Parker served as Lieutenant colonel in the Thirty-fifth Virginia Regiment Militia.
As such, he was in charge of the defense of the Northern Neck of Virginia from British incursions.
On September 16, 1814, Parker was wounded during the British attack that resulted in the burning of Washington. After the war, Parker returned to private practice and was elected to the general court on July 26, 1817.
On December 12, 1836, Judge Parker was elected United States Senator from Virginia as a Jacksonian to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Benjamin West. Leigh. Parker resigned from the Senate on March 4, 1837, to accept a seat on the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
He refused the cabinet office of United States Attorney General offered him by President Van Buren.
Parker died on his estate, ‘Soldier’s Retreat,’ near Snickersville (now Bluemont, Loudoun County), Virginia, September 10, 1840.
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Born
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Died
September 10, 1840 (aged 56) -
Nationality
American -
Political Party
Democratic party