Background
Walter Preston was born on July 19, 1819, in Washington County, Virginia, United States. He was the son of the farmer and large landowner John W. Preston.
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Gallery of Walter Preston
Charlottesville, VA, United States
Walter attended the University of Virginia.
Gallery of Walter Preston
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Walter attended Yale College around 1840.
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Other photo of Walter Preston
Charlottesville, VA, United States
Walter attended the University of Virginia.
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Other photo of Walter Preston
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Walter attended Yale College around 1840.
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Walter Preston
Edit ProfileEducation
Walter attended the University of Virginia and Yale College around 1840, studied law, and was admitted to the Virginia bar.
Career
Preston practiced law and was a planter in Abingdon. For a time he lived in Arkansas.
He also served in the Arkansas legislature and was a candidate for attorney general of Virginia before the war. He served in the provisional Confederate Congress and defeated Fayette McMullen by a large majority for a seat in the first Confederate House of Representatives. Walter was a member of the Conference, Foreign Affairs, Quartermaster’s and Commissary Departments Committees, and the special committee on the election of Confederate congressmen in the states held by the enemy.
After his term in the House ended, he returned to private life. He practiced law in Abingdon and held no further office in the Confederacy. While he suffered financially from the war, he remained moderately well-to-do.
Achievements
Politics
Until April 6, 1861, Preston considered himself an opponent of secession. He was a supporter of the Davis administration in the provisional Congress but not in the first House.
References
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Born
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Died
November, 1867 (aged 48) -
Nationality
United States -
Political Party
Whig Party