Henry Cousins Chambers
OrderMember of the Confederate House of Representatives for Mississippi
Term startFebruary 18, 1862
Term endMarch 18, 1865
Birth placeLimestone County, Alabama
Birth dateJuly 26, 1823
Death dateMay 1, 1871
Alma materCollege of New Jersey
Death placeBolivar County, Mississippi
Resting placeElmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee

Henry Cousins Chambers (July 26, 1823 – May 1, 1871) was a Confederate politician during the American Civil War.

He was born in Limestone County, Alabama, the son of Henry H. Chambers who had briefly served as a US senator from Alabama.[1] The younger Chambers attended the College of New Jersey (later renamed to Princeton University),[1] moved to Mississippi and served in the state legislature representing Coahoma County from 1859-1861.[2] Following the secession of Mississippi from the Union in 1861, Chambers represented the state in the First Confederate Congress and the Second Confederate Congress from 1862 to 1865.[1]

He killed his opponent for Confederate Congress, William Augustus Lake, in a duel in 1861.[3][1] Chambers ran unopposed for reelection in 1863, and was a strong ally of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the House, advocating for national control over military matters and conscription programs stronger than those that actually came into effect.[1]

Chambers died on May 1, 1871 in Bolivar County, Mississippi and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ Warner, Ezra J. & Yearns, W. Buck (1975). Biographical Register of the Confederate Congress. Louisiana State University Press. pp. 44–45. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  2. ^ Rowland, Dunbar. (1908). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi, Volume 2. Mississippi Department of Archives and History. p. 73.
  3. ^ "Fatal Duel Between Mississippians". The Charleston Mercury. 1861-10-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-09-12.