John N. Opie Explained

Birthname:John Newton Opie
Birth Date:March 13, 1844
Birth Place:Jefferson, Virginia, U.S.
Death Place:Staunton, Virginia, U.S.
State Senate1:Virginia
District1:9th
Term Start1:December 1, 1897
Term End1:January 10, 1906
Preceded1:Edward Echols
Succeeded1:Edward Echols
Office2:Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Augusta and Staunton City
Term Start2:December 5, 1883
Term End2:December 2, 1885
Alongside2:Edward Echols
Preceded2:James H. Skinner
Succeeded2:Alexander B. Lightner
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:Virginia Military Institute
Spouse:Isabel Harman
Ida Fletcher
Branch:Confederate States Army
Serviceyears:1861–1865
Rank:Captain
Battles:American Civil War

John Newton Opie (March 13, 1844 – January 26, 1906) was an American politician who served as a member of the Virginia Senate. His autobiography "A Rebel Cavalryman", detailed his service during the Civil War as an enlisted soldier and later Captain.

A believer in Women's suffrage, John N. Opie advocated for the right before Virginia's senate in 1904, for which he was called "...rather radical in his beliefs." Women's suffrage in Virginia was later achieved in 1920, fourteen years after his death.[1] [2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Alexandria Gazette. Senator John N. Opie fights for Women's Suffrage 1904 (Alexandria, Virginia (22 Jan 1904, Fri Page 2) . January 2, 2022. 1904. .
  2. Book: Swem, Earl G.. Earl Gregg Swem. A Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776–1918. April 14, 2021. 1918. Virginia State Library. Richmond.
  3. Book: Opie, John N. . John N. Opie. A Rebel Cavalryman, with Lee, Jackson, and Stuart. 1899 . April 25, 2021.