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Samuel Chilton

1805 – 1867

American politician

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About Samuel Chilton

Lived 1805 – 1867 (aged 61). Samuel Chilton was an American politician and lawyer.

Samuel Chilton (September 7, 1804 – January 14, 1867) was a 19th-century politician and lawyer from Virginia.

Biography

Born in Warrenton, Virginia, Chilton moved to Missouri with his family as a child and attended private school there. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1826, commencing practice back in Warrenton. He got involved in politics and was elected a Whig to the United States House of Representatives in 1842 when he narrowly defeated William "Extra Billy" Smith following a redistricting. Chilton served one term from 1843 to 1845, during which he advocated abolishing imprisonment for debt. Afterward, he returned to practicing law and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention from 1850 to 1851. At the convention he proposed a key compromise on legislative apportionment.

Chilton moved to Washington, D.C., by 1853 and became a member of American Party, or Know-Nothings. Despite having owned slaves, in 1859 he was appointed as a defense attorney for abolitionist John Brown after his previous defense attorneys advocated that the defendant advance a plea of insanity as his defense.

Chilton died in Warrenton on January 14, 1867, and was interred there at Warrenton Cemetery.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
United States representative, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia

People in Samuel Chilton's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Samuel Chilton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Samuel Chilton?

American politician (1805-1867)

When was Samuel Chilton born?

Samuel Chilton was born on 7 September 1805 in Fauquier County.

When did Samuel Chilton die?

Samuel Chilton died on 7 January 1867 in Warrenton.

What was Samuel Chilton's occupation?

Samuel Chilton was a politician and lawyer.

What nationality was Samuel Chilton?

Samuel Chilton was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Samuel Chilton

· Wikidata: Q1498072

· DBpedia: Samuel Chilton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Samuel Chilton. https://biography.guide/samuel-chilton/

MLA: "Samuel Chilton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/samuel-chilton/.

Chicago: "Samuel Chilton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/samuel-chilton/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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