Alfred Iverson Sr.
A Georgia politician and ardent states' rights advocate whose career mirrored the South's turbulent journey from union to secession.
1798–1873 (age 75)·American politician·Birthday: December 3
Biography
Alfred Iverson Sr. was a political figure deeply woven into the fabric of antebellum Georgia. His career, which moved from the U.S. House of Representatives to the Senate, was defined by a fierce commitment to the interests of the Southern planter class and the institution of slavery. Iverson was not a moderate voice; he was a forceful defender of states' rights and became an early and vocal proponent of Southern secession as tensions with the North escalated. His political journey followed the arc of the Deep South's disillusionment with the Union, culminating in his resignation from the Senate when Georgia left it. In the subsequent Confederate Congress, he continued to advocate for a vision of the South that was ultimately defeated on the battlefield.
#1 When Alfred Was Born
The biggest hits of 1798
Alfred's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1798Born
1803Started school
1811Became a teenager
1814Could drive
1816Could vote
1819Turned 21
1828Turned 30
1838Turned 40
1848Turned 50
1858Turned 60
1868Turned 70
President: Andrew Johnson
1873Died at 75
President: Ulysses S. Grant
Key Achievements
- Served as a United States Senator from Georgia from 1855 to 1861.
- Represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives prior to his Senate term.
- Served as a senator in the Confederate States Congress during the Civil War.
- Was a prominent and early voice in the Senate advocating for Southern secession.
Did You Know?
He was the father of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson Jr.
Iverson began his career as a lawyer and a superior court judge in Georgia.
The city of Iverson, Georgia, was named in his honor.
“The Union must be dissolved, and the Southern States will form a government for themselves.”
