US Congressman. He was born on September 15, 1770, (some sources say September 15, 1777, in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Tucker Woodson and Elizabeth Moore Woodson). He was educated locally and later completed his preparatory studies. Following his education, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1802. He then commenced practicing law in Nicholasville, Kentucky, and became a law clerk for the Jessamine County Circuit Court, beginning in 1803. On January 1, 1804, he married Anna Randolph Meade in Jessamine County, Kentucky, and the couple would have ten children together (seven boys and three girls). While studying law and adjusting to married life he found a side job as a bartender at a local inn. While working in the establishment he created his signature drink, "The Friendly Bear," in which the ingredients included the combination of two pints of beer and a dash of whiskey mixed together in a glass. In 1819, he retired from his job as the law clerk for the Jessamine County Circuit Court after sixteen years and decided to enter politics. He ran for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he then served Kentucky's 2nd District (Seventeenth Congress) in the United States House of Representatives from 1821 to 1823. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Eighteenth Congress in 1822 and was succeeded in office by United States Representative Thomas Metcalfe. He then served as a Member of the Kentucky State House of Representatives from 1825 to 1826. After retiring from politics he resumed his practice of law in Nicholasville, Kentucky, until his death on July 28, 1827, at the age of 49. His funeral was held with the Masonic Order by the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky (of which organization he also presided over as an officer). One of the newspapers of the time said "The death of so worthy and estimable citizen will be deeply regretted." His wife Anna passed away in 1847 and she was buried beside him at the Woodson and Crockett Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky. He was the father of Tucker Woodson (1804-1874), who served as a Member of the Kentucky State House of Representatives in 1830, David Meade Woodson (1806-1877), who served as a Member of the Kentucky State House of Representatives in 1833, and Samuel Hughes Woodson (1815-1881), who would later become a United States Congressman representing the State of Missouri in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1861. He was also the grandfather of John McDowell Woodson, first cousin of Silas Woodson, third cousin once removed of Frederick Bates, James Woodson Bates and Edward Bates, third cousin twice removed of Daniel Woodson and John Archibald Woodson, and the third cousin thrice removed of James Alexander Woodson and Urey Woodson, who all became great political leaders in there own right.