US Congressman. A Virginia Democrat, he served five terms in the US House of Representatives, from 1835 to 1841 and from 1843 until his death. Dromgoole was born in Lawrenceville, Virginia. He was a successful attorney and planter in Brunswick County when he began his political career, serving in the State House of Representatives (1823 to 1826), the State Senate (1826 to 1835), and as a delegate to the 1829 State Constitutional Convention; in addition he was a General in the State Militia. He won his first term in Congress (representing Virginia's 4th District) as a Jacksonian before settling with the Democratic Party. In November 1837, Dromgoole killed Daniel Dugger, a Lawrenceville hotel owner, in a duel that was largely instigated by local press and politicians, and to assuage his guilt the Congressman took heavily to drink. He declined to run for reelection in 1840 but returned to Capitol Hill two years later, this time representing Virginia's 2nd District. Despite his alcoholism Dromgoole was a much feared debater in the House chamber, described by one colleague as "Logical always, drunk or sober". He died at his estate in Brunswick County, a few weeks shy of his 50th birthday. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. His nephew, Alexander Dromgoole Sims, was a US Congressman from South Carolina.
US Congressman. A Virginia Democrat, he served five terms in the US House of Representatives, from 1835 to 1841 and from 1843 until his death. Dromgoole was born in Lawrenceville, Virginia. He was a successful attorney and planter in Brunswick County when he began his political career, serving in the State House of Representatives (1823 to 1826), the State Senate (1826 to 1835), and as a delegate to the 1829 State Constitutional Convention; in addition he was a General in the State Militia. He won his first term in Congress (representing Virginia's 4th District) as a Jacksonian before settling with the Democratic Party. In November 1837, Dromgoole killed Daniel Dugger, a Lawrenceville hotel owner, in a duel that was largely instigated by local press and politicians, and to assuage his guilt the Congressman took heavily to drink. He declined to run for reelection in 1840 but returned to Capitol Hill two years later, this time representing Virginia's 2nd District. Despite his alcoholism Dromgoole was a much feared debater in the House chamber, described by one colleague as "Logical always, drunk or sober". He died at his estate in Brunswick County, a few weeks shy of his 50th birthday. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. His nephew, Alexander Dromgoole Sims, was a US Congressman from South Carolina.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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