William Barrett WASHBURN, Congress, MA (1820-1887)

WASHBURN, William Barrett, a Representative and a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Winchendon, Worcester County, Mass., January 31, 1820; attended Westminster and Hancock Academies and graduated from Yale College in 1844; employed as a store clerk 1844-1847; engaged in manufacturing pursuits in Erving, Franklin County, Mass., 1847-1857; member, State senate 1850; member, State house of representatives 1853-1855; moved to Greenfield in 1858 and engaged in banking; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1863, to December 5, 1871, when he resigned, having been elected Governor; chairman, Committee on Claims (Forty-first Congress); Governor of Massachusetts 1872-1874, when he resigned, having been elected a Senator; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles Sumner and served from April 17, 1874, to March 3, 1875; was not a candidate for reelection; president of the Greenfield National Bank; member of the board of trustees of several colleges; director of the Connecticut River Railroad; died in Springfield, Hampden County, Mass., October 5, 1887; interment in Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, Franklin County, Mass.

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