1870 North Carolina's 4th congressional district special election explained

A special election to the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 4th congressional district was held August 4, 1870.

The winning candidate would serve in the United States House of Representatives to represent North Carolina in the 41st Congress until the general election on November 26, 1870.

Background

Incumbent U.S. Representative John T. Deweese resigned his seat on February 28, 1870, before he was censured by the House of Representatives on March 1, 1870, for selling an appointment to the Naval Academy.^{[1] [2]} A special election was held to replace his seat.

Candidates

Conservative

Nominee

• Robert B. Gilliam, state representative and speaker of the North Carolina house (Also identified as a Democrat)

Republican

Nominee

• Madison Hawkins, politician who later became the Chief of the US Census Bureau in northeastern NC (1890)

Aftermath

Representative-elect Robert B. Gilliam, died before taking office, necessitating the November 26 special election.

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 1866
• United States House of Representatives elections, 1868

Notes and References

1. Web site: DEWEESE, John Thomas | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives.
2. Web site: Deweese, John Thomas | NCpedia. www.ncpedia.org.