John Brown Baldwin

John Brown Baldwin
Baldwin (c. 1860s–1870s)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Augusta County, Virginia
In office December 1, 1845 – December 6, 1846 Serving with Nathaniel Massie
Preceded by	John G. Fulton
Succeeded by	Hugh W. Sheffey
Member of the Confederate House of Representatives from Virginia
In office February 1862 – March, 1865
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Augusta County, Virginia
In office December 4, 1865 – October 4, 1869
Preceded by	Hugh W. Sheffey
Succeeded by	H.M. Bell
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from Staunton, Virginia
In office December 4, 1865 – 1869
Preceded by	Hugh W. Sheffey
Succeeded by	Zephaniah Turner Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1820-01-11)11 January 1820 Staunton, Virginia
Died	30 September 1873(1873-09-30) (aged 53) Staunton, Virginia
Resting place	Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Conservative Party of Virginia
Spouse	Susan Madison Peyton
Parent	Briscoe Baldwin (father)
Residence	Richmond, Virginia
Education	Staunton Academy
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Known for	Unionist, Delegate to Virginia's Secession Convention

John Brown Baldwin (January 11, 1820 – September 30, 1873) was a Virginia lawyer and Democratic politician, who served one term in Virginia House of Delegates before the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, during which he was a Unionist. During the American Civil War, Baldwin believed his primary loyalty was to his state, and served as one of Virginia's representatives to the First and Second Confederate Congresses. He became one of the leading critics of President Jefferson Davis, who was seen by many as usurping the Confederacy's states' rights principles. During Congressional Reconstruction, Baldwin became Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.^[1][2]