William B. Read

William Brown Read (December 14, 1817 – August 5, 1880) was a 19th-century politician and lawyer from Kentucky.

Preceded byJ. Proctor Knott

Succeeded byJ. Proctor Knott

Preceded byJesse H. Rodman

Succeeded byJohn McDougal Atherton

Quick facts Preceded by, Succeeded by ...

William Brown Read
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 4th district
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	J. Proctor Knott
Succeeded by	J. Proctor Knott
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from LaRue County
In office August 5, 1867 – August 2, 1869
Preceded by	Jesse H. Rodman
Succeeded by	John McDougal Atherton
Member of the Kentucky Senate
In office August 3, 1857 – August 7, 1865
Preceded by	William Howell
Succeeded by	William Johnson
Constituency	19th district (1857–1861) 14th district (1861–1865)
Personal details
Born	(1817-12-14)December 14, 1817 Hardin County, Kentucky, USA
Died	August 5, 1880(1880-08-05) (aged 62) Hodgenville, Kentucky, USA
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Sally Rawlings Kennedy Read
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

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Born in Hardin County, Kentucky, Read completed preparatory studies, studied law and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in Hodgenville, Kentucky in 1849. He was a member of the Kentucky Senate from 1857 to 1865, was a delegate to both of the Democratic National Conventions in 1860 and was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1863, losing to Richard T. Jacob. Read was again a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1864, was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1867 to 1869 and was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1870, serving from 1871 to 1875, being unsuccessful for renomination in 1874. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law until his death in Hodgenville, Kentucky on August 5, 1880. He was interred in Red Hill Cemetery in Hodgenville.