Virginia
Gov. John Mercer Patton
- March 20, 1841 - March 31, 1841
- Whig
- August 10, 1797
- October 29, 1858
- Virginia
- Princeton University; University of Pennsylvania
- Married Margaret French Williams; six children
- Succeeded
- Representative
About
JOHN MERCER PATTON was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. After studying briefly at Princeton, he graduated from medical school at the University of Pennsylvania but did not practice medicine. Instead, he went on to study law in Fredericksburg and practiced law there. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill a vacancy, he was reelected to four consecutive terms. He returned to Richmond and was elected to the Virginia Council of State, serving from 1838 to 1841. As senior member of the Council, Patton assumed the office of governor upon the resignation of Thomas W. Gilmer. He served for only twelve days, however, until the state legislature chose his successor. He returned to the practice of law and was appointed to revise and condense the Civil Code of Virginia in 1846, after which he prepared a new code in 1849. He was also appointed to the Board of Visitors of the Medical College of Virginia in 1854, serving as its president until his death.
Source
Salmon, Emily and Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr. Hornbook of Virginia History. 4th ed. Richmond: Library of Virginia, 1994.
Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols
