William Wallace Eaton (October 11, 1816September 21, 1898) was a United States representative and United States senator from Connecticut.

Biography

Born in Tolland, Connecticut, he was educated in the common schools and by private instruction. He moved to Columbia, South Carolina to engage in mercantile pursuits, then returned to Tolland, studied law, and was admitted to the

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in 1837, and began practice there.

Career

A clerk of courts of Tolland County in 1846 and 1847, Eaton was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives 1847–1848, then a member of the Connecticut state senate 20th District in 1850. In 1851, he moved to Hartford, and was clerk of courts of Hartford County in 1851 and 1854, as well as city attorney in 1857 and 1858. He was chief judge of the city court of Hartford in 1863 and 1864, and from 1867 to 1872, and was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut in 1864 and 1868. Eaton was again a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1853, and again was a member of the Connecticut Senate in 1859. An unsuccessful

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1860, Eaton again served as a Representative in 1863, 1868, 1870–1871 and 1873–1874. He served as speaker in 1853 and 1873. Appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of

William A. Buckingham William Alfred Buckingham (May 28, 1804 – February 5, 1875) was a Republican who served as the governor of Connecticut during the Civil War and later as a United States senator. Biography Born in Lebanon, Connecticut, the son of Samuel Bucki ...

, Eaton served from February 5, 1875, to March 3, 1875. Elected for the full term beginning March 4, 1875, he served until March 3, 1881. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations (Forty-sixth Congress). He would prove the last Democratic

Senator from Connecticut This is a chronological listing of the United States senators from Connecticut. United States Senate, United States senators are popularly elected, for a six-year term, beginning January 3. Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. ...

until

Augustine Lonergan Augustine Lonergan (May 20, 1874October 18, 1947) was a U.S. Senator and Representative from Connecticut. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served as a senator from 1933 to 1939. Biography Lonergan was born in Thompson, Connecticut, ...

was elected in 1932. Eaton was also elected as a Democratic Representative to the Forty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885), and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1884.

Death

Eaton resumed the practice of law until he died in Hartford, on September 21, 1898 (age 81 years, 345 days). He is interred at Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut.

References

External links

Library of Congress Biography
*
Govtrack US CongressConnecticutHistory.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eaton, William W. 1816 births 1898 deaths Connecticut state court judges Democratic Party United States senators from Connecticut Democratic Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives Democratic Party Connecticut state senators Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut 19th-century American legislators People from Tolland, Connecticut Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 19th-century American judges 19th-century Connecticut politicians