William M. Lowe

For other people named William Lowe, see William Lowe (disambiguation).

William Manning Lowe (June 12, 1842 – October 12, 1882) was an American politician and Confederate Civil War veteran who served the state of Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1879 and 1881 and in 1882.

William M. Lowe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 8th district
In office June 3, 1882 – October 12, 1882
Preceded by	Joseph Wheeler
Succeeded by	Joseph Wheeler
In office March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	William Willis Garth
Succeeded by	Joseph Wheeler
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office 1870–1878
Personal details
Born	William Manning Lowe June 12, 1842 Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Died	October 12, 1882(1882-10-12) (aged 40) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Cause of death	Tuberculosis
Resting place	Maple Hill Cemetery
Political party	Greenback
Education	University of Virginia
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

William M. Lowe was born on June 12, 1842, in Huntsville, Alabama. He attended the Wesleyan University at Florence, Alabama and the University of Virginia.

Civil War

During the American Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate States Army, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Legal career

He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Huntsville. He was solicitor of the fifth judicial circuit between 1865 and 1867.

Political career

In 1870, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, and was a delegate to the Alabama constitutional convention of 1875.

Congressional election dispute

Lowe was elected in 1878 as a Greenback to the U.S. House of Representatives, but in initial results was defeated for reelection by Joseph Wheeler in 1880, 601 votes for Lowe having been declared illegal by election judges. In a highly contentious recount that lasted over a year, Lowe successfully contested Wheeler's election and assumed the office on June 3, 1882.

Lowe only served four months in Congress prior to his death.

Death and burial

Lowe died of tuberculosis at his home in Huntsville on October 12, 1882. He was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville.

Following Lowe's death, Wheeler won a special election to fill the vacant congressional seat and served the remaining weeks of the term.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

• United States Congress. "William M. Lowe (id: L000474)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Lawley, Jim. "Gen. Joe Wheeler was entangled in recount." at the Wayback Machine (archived July 14, 2001) The Decatur Daily, December 10, 2000, online edition (retrieved July 14, 2001).
• http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?action=detail&id=30888

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress