George Washington WOODWARD, Congress, PA (1809-1875)

WOODWARD, George Washington, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Bethany, Wayne County, Pa., March 26, 1809; attended Geneva Seminary (now Hobart College), Geneva, N.Y., and Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Academy; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1830 and commenced practice in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1837; president judge of the fourth judicial district 1841-1851; unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator in 1845; nominated in 1845 by President Polk a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States but was not confirmed by the Senate; associate judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania 1852-1863 and chief justice 1863-1867; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor in 1863; elected as a Democrat to the Fortieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles Denison; reelected to the Forty-first Congress and served from November 21, 1867, to March 3 1871; was not a candidate for renomination in 1870; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1868; unsuccessful candidate for president judge of the eleventh judicial district in 1870; moved to Philadelphia in 1871 and continued the practice of his profession; was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1873; traveled abroad in 1874 and died in Rome, Italy, on May 10, 1875; interment in Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present