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Hon. Phillip Pendleton Barbour

     (b. 25 May 1783 - d. 25 Feb 1841) 		Range 57 Site 144
 
 
A Representative from Virginia. Graduated from William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va., in 1799. Studied law and practiced. Elected as a Democrat to the 13th to 18th Congresses and served from 1814 to 1825. Served as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 17th Congress. Elected to the 20th and 21st Congresses and served from 1827 to 1830. Appointed Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and served from 1836 until his death.
 

The National Intelligencer, Friday, February 26, 1841
 

Death of Judge Barbour
The whole city was shocked, yesterday morning, by the information of the sudden demise of the Hon Philip P. Barbour, of Virginia, one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. He was in usual health and even more than usually cheerful at the time of retiring to bed at 10 o'clock on Wednesday night, and the next morning was found in his bed a lifeless corpse!

Judge Barbour entered Congress, in the House of Representatives, in the year 1814, and soon signalized himself by considerable ability in debate. He remained in Congress for a number of years, during a part of which time he filled the honorable office of Speaker of the House. Since retiring from Congress, his life had been devoted with great assiduity to the judicial duties which he had been called to perform.
 


The National Intelligencer, February 27, 1841
 

IN SENATE
As soon as the Journal was read -- Mr. Roane rose and communicated to the Chair the following letter received by him from the Chief Justice of the United States:

     Washington, Feb. 26, 1841
Sir: As one of the Senators of of the State of Virginia, of which our lamented brother, Judge Barbour, was so distinguished a citizen, I enclose you a copy of the funeral ceremonies which have been determined upon. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant.
     R.B. Taney"

Mr. Roane rose and said: Mr. President, I ask a moment of the precious time of the Senate; I will not abuse it; for already had the mournful intelligence now officially announced to us reached every member of this body, and already had the heart of every individual in this community been touched by that pure and exalted feeling which is ever awakened when the patriot hears that his country has suddenly lost, and lost forever, one of its benefactors.

Mr. President, had I the talent and the material (which I have not) to offer a just tribute to the memory of the distinguished Judge whose funeral we are now invited to attend, I should deem it inappropriate to do so on the present occasion. That task I leave in other and abler hands; but knowing, as I well do, the exemplary virtues of the deceased in all the social and domestic relations of life; knowing, as I well do, the exalted estimation in which his virtues, talents, and patriotism were held in his native State, which I have the honor, in part, to represent, and knowing, as does every member of this body, his long, faithful, and valuable public services within the walls of this building, I feel myself authorized to ask the Senate to adopt the resolution I now offer:

Resolved unanimously, That, in testimony of their respect for the memory of the Hon. Philip P. Barbour, late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Senate will adjourn this day, at 2 o'clock, for the purpose of attending the funeral of the deceased.

The following is the order of the funeral ceremonies as announced from the Chair:

The Judges of the Supreme Court, with it Officers, and The Judges of the Courts of the District, with the members of the Bar, will assemble at 2 o'clock today at Mrs. Turner's, Pennsylvania avenue, and thence attend the remains of the deceased to the room of the Supreme Court, where the usual services will be performed by the Chaplains of Congress; and where the President (Van Buren), the Heads of Departments, the Senators and Representatives in Congress, the members of the Foreign Legations, and citizens and strangers are requested to attend; after which, the procession will move in the above order to the Steamboat wharf, where the remains of the deceased will be embarked with proper attendants, in order to be conveyed to his country seat in Orange county, Virginia, for interment. [Note: Arrangements were changed and remains were taken to Congressional Cemetery.]