Ransom, Matt W. (Matt Whitaker), 1826-1904

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Matthew Whitaker Ransom (1826-1904) was a lawyer, planter, state official, Confederate general, Redeemer, Democratic United States senator from North Carolina, and minister to Mexico. Born on 8 October 1826 in Warren County, N.C., to Robert and Priscilla Whitaker Ransom, Ransom was brother to General Robert Ransom and cousin to fellow Confederate officer Wharton J. Green. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1847, Ransom went on to serve as the North Carolina Attorney General and as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. He married Martha Pattie Anne Exum in 1853 and moved to her family's plantation, Verona, on the Roanoke River near Weldon, N.C. In 1861, he served as one of the three commissioners selected by the North Carolina state legislature to visit the Confederate convention at Montgomery, Ala. Ransom was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st North Carolina Infantry, later served as colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry, and was ultimately promoted to brigadier general in 1863. Ransom fought in the battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Plymouth, Weldon, Suffolk, and the siege of Petersburg, finally surrendering at Appomattox. In 1866, Ransom moved back to Weldon, N.C., and resumed work as a planter and lawyer. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1872, succeeding Zebulon B. Vance, and served until 1895. He was then appointed United States Ambassador to Mexico and served from 1895-1897. Ransom retired in 1897 and returned to private life and farming at his estate, where he died on 8 October 1904.

From the guide to the Matt W. Ransom Papers, 1845-1914, (bulk 1868-1904), (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Matt W. Ransom (1826-1904) was a lawyer; planter; state official; Confederate general; Redeemer; Democratic United States senator from North Carolina, 1872-1895; and United States minister to Mexico, 1895-1897.

From the description of Matt W. Ransom papers, 1845-1914 (bulk 1868-1904). WorldCat record id: 25678017

Confederate soldier, U.S. Senator, 1872-1895, and minister to Mexico; from Northampton Co., N.C.

From the description of Letters, 1853-1887. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 154270867

From the description of Letters, 1853-1887. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20115399

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Ransom, Matt W. (Matt Whitaker), 1826-1904. Letters, 1853-1887. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Celeste McClammy Logan Collection, 1852-1945 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
referencedIn Meares, William Belvidere, 1826-1896. William Belvidere Meares papers, 1851-1948. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Kelly, James Oscar Abner, 1833-1918. Papers, 1863-1918. North Carolina Division of Archives & Hist
referencedIn MacRae, John Burgwyn, 1845-1916. John Burgwyn MacRae papers, 1866-1916, 1974. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part II: The Civil War and the Confederacy, 1832-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Hill, Joel Edgar. Correspondence, 1872-1910; (Bulk 1889-1903). Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Matt W. Ransom Papers, 1845-1914, (bulk 1868-1904) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Umstead, William Bradley, 1895-1954. General Matt Whitaker Ransom : an address / by William B. Umstead. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881. Autograph on sheet : [n.p., n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Ransom, Matt W. (Matt Whitaker), 1826-1904. Letters, 1853-1887. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Ransom, Matt W. (Matt Whitaker), 1826-1904. Matt W. Ransom papers, 1845-1914 (bulk 1868-1904). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anthony, Susan B. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906. person
associatedWith Brown, Bedford, 1795-1870. person
associatedWith Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881. person
associatedWith Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Democratic Party (N.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hill, Joel Edgar. person
associatedWith Kelly, James Oscar Abner, 1833-1918. person
correspondedWith Logan, Celeste McClammy. person
associatedWith MacRae, John Burgwyn, 1845-1916. person
associatedWith Meares, William Belvidere, 1826-1896. person
associatedWith Ransom family. family
associatedWith Ransom family. family
associatedWith Ransom, R. (Robert), 1828-1892. person
associatedWith Swepson, Geo. W. (George William), 1811-1883. person
associatedWith Umstead, William Bradley, 1895-1954. person
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith Vance, Zebulon Baird, 1830-1894. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
North Carolina
Mexico
Southern States
Subject
African Americans
African Americans
Agriculture
Agriculture and politics
Cotton growing
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Legislators
Plantation owners
Plantations
Politicians
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Silver question
Tariff
Women
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1826-10-08

Death 1904-10-08

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