Luke PRYOR, Congress, AL (1820-1900)

PRYOR, Luke, a Senator and a Representative from Alabama; born in Huntsville, Madison County, Ala., July 5, 1820; moved with his parents to Limestone County in 1824; pursued academic studies; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Athens, Ala.; also engaged in agricultural pursuits; member, State house of representatives 1855-1856; appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Houston and served from January 7 to November 23, 1880, when a successor was elected; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1885); declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1884; chairman, Committee on Territories (Forty-eighth Congress); retired to his farm near Athens, Ala., where he died August 5, 1900; interment in the City Cemetery.

Bibliography

Watson, Elbert L. “Luke Pryor.” In Alabama United States Senators, pp. 86-87. Huntsville, AL: Strode Publishers, 1982.

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