Albert T. Goodwyn

Albert T. Goodwyn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 5th district
In office
April 22, 1896 – March 3, 1897
Preceded byJames E. Cobb
Succeeded byWillis Brewer
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office
1886
1887
Member of the Alabama Senate
In office
1892-1896
Personal details
Born
Albert Taylor Goodwyn

(1842-12-17)December 17, 1842
Robinson Springs, Alabama, US
DiedJuly 1, 1931(1931-07-01) (aged 88)
Birmingham, Alabama, US
Resting placeOakwood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsRobert Tyler (father-in-law) John Tyler (grandfather-in-law)
Alma materUniversity of South Carolina
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States of America
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
RankCaptain
Unit58th Alabama Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Albert Taylor Goodwyn (December 17, 1842 – July 1, 1931) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.

Early life and military career

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Born at Robinson Springs, Alabama, Goodwyn attended Robinson Springs Academy and South Carolina College at Columbia (now the University of South Carolina). During the Civil War, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served until June 1865. He was mustered out at the close of the war as captain of a company of sharpshooters and was decorated with the Southern Cross of Honor.[1] He graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, in 1867. He engaged in agricultural pursuits near Robinson Springs.

Political career

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Goodwyn served as state inspector of convicts 1874–1880. He served as member of the Alabama House of Representatives in 1886 and 1887. He served in the Alabama Senate 1892–1896. In 1894, Goodwyn as a Populist challenged incumbent Democrat James E. Cobb for the Congressional seat from Alabama's 5th district. At first, Cobb was declared re-elected 10,651 to 9,903,[2] but Goodwyn successfully contested the election of James E. Cobb to the Fifty-fourth Congress and obtained the seat, holding it from April 22, 1896 until March 3, 1897. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection as the nominee of the Populist and Republican parties in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress, losing to Silver Democrat Willis Brewer, 8,742 (39.2%) to 13,587 (60.2%).[3] In 1896, Goodwyn also ran as the Populist nominee for governor of Alabama, but was defeated by Joseph F. Johnston 89,290 (41%) to 128,540, although the official returns may indicate fraud.[4]

Goodwyn was elected commander in chief of the United Confederate Veterans on May 8, 1928. He resumed agricultural pursuits near Robinson Springs, Alabama. He died while on a visit in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 1, 1931. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama.

References

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  1. ^ Gibbons, Caroline Jones. "Albert Taylor Goodwyn". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  2. ^ Congressional Quarterly 's Guide to US Elections (1975), 672.
  3. ^ Congressional Quarterly 's Guide to US Elections (1975), 677; Albert Taylor Goodwyn at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009-05-07;
  4. ^ Congressional Quarterly 's Guide to US Elections (1975), 397.
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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Party political offices
Preceded by Populist nominee for Governor of Alabama
1896
Succeeded by
Gilbert B. Dean
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 5th congressional district

1896-1897
Succeeded by