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Peter Dinwiddie Wigginton (September 6, 1839 – July 7, 1890) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. representative from California during the 1870s.
Peter D. Wigginton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 4th district | |
| In office February 7, 1878 – March 4, 1879 | |
| Preceded by | Romualdo Pacheco |
| Succeeded by | Romualdo Pacheco |
| In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Sherman Otis Houghton |
| Succeeded by | Romualdo Pacheco |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Dinwiddie Wigginton September 6, 1839 Springfield, Illinois |
| Died | July 7, 1890 (aged 50) Oakland, California |
| Resting place | Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland |
| Political party | Democratic Party (until 1886), American Party (1886–1890) |
| Profession | lawyer, politician |
Biography
editBorn in Springfield, Illinois, Wigginton moved to Wisconsin with his parents in 1843. He completed preparatory studies and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859 and started his practice. He was editor of the Dodgeville (Wisconsin) Advocate. He moved to Snelling, California, in 1862, and continued the practice of law. He served as district attorney of Merced County 1864–1868.
Congress
editWigginton was elected as a Democrat to the 44th Congress (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877). After apparently losing re-election in 1876 to Romualdo Pacheco, Wigginton successfully contested Pacheco's election to the 45th Congress and was seated in his place, serving out the term (February 7, 1878 – March 4, 1879). Wigginton did not seek re-nomination.
He settled in San Francisco in 1880 and resumed the practice of law. In 1886, Wigginton founded the American Party, a nativist third party.[1] He would go on to be nominated by the party as its candidate for Vice President in 1888.
Death
editHe died in Oakland, California, July 7, 1890. He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery.
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Peter D. Wigginton | 15,649 | 48.8 | |||
| Republican | Sherman Otis Houghton (Incumbent) | 11,090 | 34.6 | |||
| Independent | J. S. Thompson | 5,343 | 16.7 | |||
| Total votes | 32,082 | 100.0 | ||||
| Turnout | ||||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Romualdo Pacheco | 19,104 | 50.0 | |||
| Democratic | Peter D. Wigginton (Incumbent) | 19,103 | 50.0 | |||
| Total votes | 38,207 | 100.0 | ||||
| Turnout | ||||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
References
edit- ^ Higham, John (February 1950). "The American Party, 1886 - 1891". Pacific Historical Review: 39.
- United States Congress. "Peter D. Wigginton (id: W000449)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Higham, John (February 1950). "The American Party, 1886 - 1891". Pacific Historical Review: 39.
External links
edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress