Rebecca Latimer Felton
| Rebecca Latimer Felton | |
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United States Senator from Georgia |
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In office November 21, 1922 – November 22, 1922 |
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| Appointed by | Thomas Hardwick |
| Preceded by | Thomas Watson |
| Succeeded by | Walter George |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rebecca Ann Latimer June 10, 1835 Decatur, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | January 24, 1930 (aged 94) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | William Felton |
| Alma mater | Madison Collegiate Institute and Methodist Female College |
Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton (June 10, 1835 – January 24, 1930) was an American writer, lecturer, reformer, and politician who became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate, though only serving for one day. She was the most prominent woman in Georgia in the Progressive Era, and was honored by appointment to the Senate. She was sworn in November 21, 1922, and served just 24 hours. At 87 years, nine months, and 22 days old, she was the oldest freshman senator to enter the Senate. To date, she is also the only woman to have served as a Senator from Georgia. Her husband William Harrell Felton was a member of the United States House of Representatives and Georgia House of Representatives and she ran his campaigns. She was a prominent society woman; an advocate of prison reform, women's suffrage and educational modernization; a white supremacist and slave owner; and one of the few prominent women who spoke in favor of lynching. Bartley reports that by 1915 she "was championing a lengthy feminist program that ranged from prohibition to equal pay for equal work."
Latimer was born in Decatur, Georgia on June 10, 1835. She was the daughter of Charles Latimer, a prosperous planter, merchant, general store owner. Charles was a Maryland native who moved to DeKalb County in the 1820s, and his wife, Eleanor Swift Latimer was from Morgan, Georgia. She was the oldest of four children and her sister, Mary Latimer, became prominent in women's reforms in the Early 20th century as well. At 15, her father had sent her to live with family members in the town of Madison, Georgia so she could attend Madison Female College, where she graduated at the top of her class at age 17 in 1852.
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