David T. Patterson

David T. Patterson was an American politician, lawyer, and judge who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee during the turbulent Reconstruction era. His political career was deeply intertwined with the powerful political family of his father-in-law, President Andrew Johnson. A former circuit court judge, he was the only Southern Democrat to vote for acquittal in the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, a pivotal event in American political history.

Early life and education

David Trotter Patterson was born in Cedar Creek, Tennessee, within Greene County, Tennessee. He attended the local common schools before furthering his education at Greenville College in Tennessee. After completing his studies, he read law under the tutelage of Thomas L. Williams, a prominent local attorney, and was subsequently admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1841. He established a successful legal practice in Greeneville, the community that would remain his lifelong home and political base.

Legal and political career

Patterson quickly gained prominence in Greene County legal and political circles. He served as a solicitor for the state's First Judicial Circuit before his election as a circuit court judge in 1854, a position he held until the outbreak of the American Civil War. His marriage to Martha Johnson Patterson, daughter of Andrew Johnson, in 1855 cemented his connection to one of Tennessee's most significant political families. During the war, Patterson, like his father-in-law, remained a staunch Unionist and did not serve in the Confederate States Army.

United States Senate service

Following the war, Patterson was elected as a National Unionist to the United States Senate by the Tennessee General Assembly. He served a single term from March 4, 1866, to March 3, 1869, during the critical early years of Reconstruction. His tenure was dominated by the intense political conflict between President Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans in Congress. In 1868, Patterson was the only Southern Democratic senator to vote for acquittal on all three articles during the historic Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, a act of loyalty that defied his party but aligned with his familial and political bonds.

Later life and death

After leaving the United States Senate, Patterson returned to his legal practice and business interests in Greeneville. He remained active in Tennessee Democratic politics but did not seek federal office again. He served for a time as the president of the Greeneville and French Broad Railroad and maintained his involvement in local civic affairs. Patterson died at his home in Greeneville on November 3, 1891. He was interred in the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery, located near the homestead of President Andrew Johnson.

Legacy and honors

Patterson's legacy is primarily that of a loyal political ally and family member within the orbit of President Andrew Johnson. His vote during the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson remains a noted footnote in the history of that constitutional crisis. The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville preserves artifacts and history related to his life and family. His former residence, known as the Patterson House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the historic site, serving as a testament to his role in the region's history.

Category:1818 births Category:1891 deaths Category:United States Senators from Tennessee Category:Tennessee Democrats Category:American circuit court judges Category:People from Greeneville, Tennessee Category:Andrew Johnson family