Ambrose Hundley Sevier

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Ambrose Hundley Sevier

Junior Senator, Arkansas
In office September 18, 1836 – March 15, 1848
Preceded by	(none)
Succeeded by	Solon Borland

Born	November 4, 1801 Greeneville, Tennessee, USA
Died	December 31, 1848 Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Juliette Johnson Sevier
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

Ambrose Hundley Sevier (November 4, 1801 – December 31, 1848) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate from Arkansas.

Ambrose Hundley Sevier was born near Greeneville, Tennessee in Greene County, Tennessee. Sevier moved to Missouri in 1820 and to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1821.

In Arkansas he became clerk of the Territorial House of Representatives. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1823. Sevier became a member of the House of Representatives and served from 1823 to 1827 and served as speaker of that body in 1827.

Sevier was elected as a Delegate to the Twentieth US Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Wharton Conway. Sevier was reelected and served as delegate in three successive congresses from 1828 to 1836 when Arkansas was admitted to the Union. Sevier is known as the "Father of Arkansas Statehood".

In 1836 Sevier was elected as the first member of the United States Senate from Arkansas. He was reelected in 1837 and 1843. He resigned from office in 1848. During the twenty-ninth Congress he was allowed to hold the seat of President of the Senate pro tem for a day, though he was not actually elected to that post. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs and was a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations.

In 1848 he was appointed an ambassador to Mexico to negotiate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo at the end of the Mexican-American War.

Ambrose Hundley Sevier died on his plantation in Pulaski County, Arkansas. He was buried in the historic Mount Holly Cemetery. The State of Arkansas erected a monument in the cemetery in his honor.

Sevier was the grandnephew of John Sevier, first cousin of Representative Henry Wharton Conway, Governor James Sevier Conway, Governor Elias Nelson Conway, brother-in-law of Senator Robert Ward Johnson and father-in-law of Governor Thomas James Churchill.

Sevier County, Arkansas is named in his honor.

[edit] External link

Ambrose Hundley Sevier on congress.gov

Preceded by Henry Wharton Conway	Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas Territory's At-large congressional district February 13, 1828 – June 15, 1836	Succeeded by (none)
Preceded by (none)	United States Senator (Class 3) from Arkansas September 18, 1836 – March 15, 1848 Served alongside: William Savin Fulton and Chester Ashley	Succeeded by Solon Borland
Preceded by Hugh Lawson White	Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs 1840 – 1841	Succeeded by James T. Morehead
Preceded by Albert White	Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs 1845 – 1846	Succeeded by Arthur Bagby
Preceded by William Allen	Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations 1846 – 1848	Succeeded by Edward A. Hannegan
Preceded by Willie P. Mangum	*President pro tempore* of the United States Senate** December 27, 1845^(a)	Succeeded by David R. Atchison
^(a) Sevier was not actually elected President of the Senate pro tempore, but was allowed to 'hold the seat' for a day.