West H. Humphreys
| West Hughes Humphreys | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | August 26, 1806 Montgomery County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died |
October 16, 1882 (aged 76) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Transylvania University |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Parent(s) | Parry Wayne Humphreys |
| Relatives | John W. Morton (son-in-law) |
West Hughes Humphreys (August 26, 1806 – October 16, 1882) was a United States District Court judge, and a judge of the Confederate States of America. It was for the latter office that he was removed from his position in the former.
Humphreys was born on August 26, 1806 in Montgomery County, Tennessee. His father, Parry Wayne Humphreys, was a Congressman from Tennessee.
Humphreys studied the Law at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, but failed to graduate due to ill health and received a law licence in 1828.
Humphreys was in private practice of law in Clarksville, Tennessee from 1828 to 1829 and in private practice of law in Somerville, Tennessee from 1829 to 1839. Humphreys later served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1835 to 1838, and as State Attorney General from 1839 to 1851 and he was a Reporter of the Supreme Court of Tennessee from 1839 to 1851.
On March 24, 1853, Humphreys was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to preside over all three of the Federal District Courts for Tennessee, the seats having been vacated by Morgan W. Brown. Two days later, Humphreys was confirmed by the United States Senate and received his commission. Humphreys supported the secessionist movement that led to the Civil War and accepted an appointment to the Confederate District Court of Tennessee on which he served from 1861 to 1865.
On May 19, 1862 the United States House of Representatives voted to impeach Humphreys on the following charges: Publicly calling for secession; Giving aid to an armed rebellion; Conspiring with Jefferson Davis; Serving as a Confederate Judge; Confiscating the property of Military Governor Andrew Johnson and Supreme Court Justice John Catron; And imprisoning a Union sympathiser with "intent to injure him".
...
Wikipedia