Robert Ridgway (congressman)

This article is about the Virginia congressman, lawyer and editor. For the American ornithologist, see Robert Ridgway.

Robert Ridgway
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district
In office January 27, 1870 – October 16, 1870
Preceded by	Thomas S. Bocock
Succeeded by	Richard T.W. Duke
Personal details
Born	(1823-04-21)April 21, 1823 Lynchburg, Virginia
Died	Amherst, Virginia
Political party	Whig (until 1869)
Other political affiliations	Conservative (after 1869)
Alma mater	Emory and Henry College University of Virginia
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Newspaper Editor

Robert Ridgway (April 21, 1823 – October 16, 1870) was a nineteenth-century congressman, lawyer and editor from Virginia.

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Ridgeway attended Emory and Henry College and graduated from the University of Virginia. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in Liberty, Virginia. He was editor of the Bedford Sentinel before he moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1853 and became the editor of the Richmond Whig. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ridgeway retired to Amherst, Virginia. He was elected a Whig to the United States House of Representatives in 1866, but was not permitted to be seated due to incomplete reconstruction measures. He was later elected a Conservative to the House in 1869, serving from January 1870 until his death on October 16, 1870 in Amherst, Virginia. He was interred in the family cemetery in Amherst.

External links

• Robert Ridgway at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Robert Ridgway at Find A Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Thomas S. Bocock(1)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th congressional district January 27, 1870 – October 16, 1870	Succeeded by Richard T. W. Duke
Notes and references
1. Because of Virginia's secession, the House seat was vacant for almost nine years before Ridgway succeeded Bocock.