William Barron CALHOUN, Congress, MA (1796-1865)

CALHOUN, William Barron, a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Boston, Mass., December 29, 1796; was graduated from Yale College in 1814; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Springfield; member of the State house of representatives 1825-1834, serving as speaker 1828-1834; elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and as a Whig to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1835-March 3, 1843); chairman, Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-sixth Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1842; member of the State senate in 1846 and 1847, serving as its president; secretary of State of Massachusetts 1848-1851; State bank commissioner 1853-1855; mayor of Springfield in 1859; again a member of the State house of representatives in 1861 and 1862; died in Springfield, Mass., November 8, 1865; interment in Springfield Cemetery.

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