Eppa Hunton (December 30, 1822 – November 30, 1908) was an American lawyer, Confederate States Army brigadier general, and Democratic politician from Virginia. He served three terms as a United States Representative (1883–1889) and later as a justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.
Early life and education
Eppa Hunton was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, the son of Eppa Hunton Sr., a planter and militia officer. He received a private education typical of a Southern gentry family and studied law under the tutelage of established attorneys. He was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1843 and began practicing law in Warrenton, Virginia.
Legal and political career before the Civil War
Hunton entered local politics, serving as a delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates (1849‑1852). He was also a member of the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, where he voted in favor of secession.
Civil War service
Following Virginia’s secession, Hunton enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He rose through the ranks, initially commissioned as a lieutenant in the 8th Virginia Infantry, later receiving promotions to captain, major, and colonel. In 1864 he was appointed brigadier general and given command of a cavalry brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. Hunton participated in several engagements, including the Battle of Gettysburg and the defense of Richmond. He surrendered with the Confederate forces in April 1865.
Post‑war career
After the war, Hunton resumed his legal practice in Warrenton and relocated to Alexandria, Virginia, in the early 1870s. He became involved in railroad enterprises, serving as vice‑president of the Southern Railway Company.
Congressional service
Running as a Democrat, Hunton was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Virginia’s 8th district, serving three consecutive terms in the 48th, 49th, and 50th Congresses (March 1883 – March 1889). While in Congress, he advocated for veterans’ benefits, infrastructure development, and policies favorable to Southern agrarian interests.
Judicial service
In 1889, Hunton was appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia (now the Supreme Court of Virginia). He served as an associate justice until his death, contributing to decisions on civil and criminal law that helped shape Virginia’s jurisprudence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Personal life and death
Hunton married Ellen Caroline Miller in 1848; the couple had several children, among them Eppa Hunton Jr., who also pursued a legal career. Eppa Hunton died on November 30, 1908, in Richmond, Virginia, and was interred at the family cemetery in Fauquier County.
Legacy
Eppa Hunton is remembered as a representative figure of Southern military leadership who transitioned to public service in the Reconstruction and post‑Reconstruction eras. His contributions to Virginia’s legal and political institutions are noted in state historical records.
