Balie PEYTON, Congress, TN (1803-1878)

PEYTON, Balie, (brother of Joseph Hopkins Peyton), a Representative from Tennessee; born near Gallatin, Tenn., November 26, 1803; completed preparatory studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Gallatin in 1824; elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress and reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1837); resumed the practice of law; moved to New Orleans in 1841, having been appointed United States attorney for the eastern district of Louisiana, which position he held for four years; served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. W. J. Worth during the Mexican War; appointed as Minister to Chile by President Taylor and served from August 9, 1849, to September 14, 1853, when he resigned; moved to San Francisco, Calif., in 1853 and continued the practice of law; prosecuting attorney of San Francisco 1853-1859; returned to Gallatin, Tenn., in 1859 and resumed the practice of law; presidential elector on the Constitutional-Union ticket of Bell and Everett in 1860; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1866 to the Fortieth Congress; member of the state senate, 1869-1871; resumed the practice of law; died on his farm near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tenn., August 18, 1878; interment in the family burying ground on his estate.

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