William Lucas (politician)


William Lucas was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from Virginia.

Early life

Born at Cold Spring near Shepherdstown, Virginia in 1800 Lucas was the brother of Edward Lucas. Lucas attended the village schools and Jefferson College at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He went on to graduate from Tucker Law School in 1825, being admitted to the bar the same year.

Career

He commenced practice in Shepherdstown before moving to Charles Town, Virginia in 1830 and continued practice there as well as engaging in horticultural pursuits.
Lucas was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1838 and 1839 and was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1838, serving from 1839 to 1841 and being unsuccessful for reelection in 1840. He was elected back to the House in 1842, serving again from 1843 to 1845 and once again being unsuccessful for reelection in 1844.
Afterwards, Lucas resumed practicing law and engagements in horticultural pursuits and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1850 and 1851. He was one of four delegates elected from the northern Valley delegate district made up of his home district of Jefferson County as well as Berkeley and Clarke Counties.

Death

He died at his estate, Rion Hall, in Jefferson County, West Virginia, on August 29, 1877, and was interred in Zion Episcopal Churchyard in Charles Town, West Virginia.