William Embre Gaines (August 30, 1844 – May 4, 1912) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.

William Embre Gaines
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889
Preceded byJames D. Brady
Succeeded byEdward C. Venable
Member of the Virginia Senate from Lunenburg, Nottoway and Brunswick Counties
In office
1884–1885
Preceded byF.B. Williams
Succeeded byWilliam Worsham
Personal details
Born(1844-08-30)August 30, 1844
Charlotte Court House, Virginia
DiedMay 4, 1912(1912-05-04) (aged 67)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeGlenwood Cemetery, Washington D.C.
Political partyRepublican
Professionlawyer
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States of America
Branch/serviceConfederate States Army
RankAdjutant of Artillery
Unit18th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Pickett's Division, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography

edit
 
Grave of William Embre Gaines at Glenwood Cemetery.

Born near Charlotte Court House, Virginia, Gaines attended local public school. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a private in Company K of the 18th Virginia Regiment (Pickett's division). He reenlisted and joined the Army of the Cape Fear, which surrendered with General Joe Johnston near Greensboro, North Carolina, in April 1865. He attained the rank of adjutant in Manly's artillery battalion.

After the war, Gaines studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Burkeville, Virginia. He also engaged in the tobacco business and in banking. He was elected to the Senate of Virginia and served from 1883 to 1887, when he resigned. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1884, and later was mayor of Burkeville. He also was a delegate to several state Republican conventions.

Gaines was elected as a Republican to the 50th United States Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1888.

He died in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 1912, and was interred in Glenwood Cemetery.[1]

Electoral history

edit

1886 - Gaines was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 70.24% of the vote, defeating Democrat Mann Page.

References

edit

Bibliography

edit
  • Bailey, N. Louise; Morgan, Mary L.; Taylor, Carolyn R. (1986). Biographical Directory of the South Carolina Senate: 1776-1985. Volume 1. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 0872494799.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 4th congressional district

1887–1889
Succeeded by