OVERVIEW:

FULL NAME:
William Ballard Preston

BORN:
November 25, 1805
Smithfield, Virginia

DIED:
November 16, 1862 (age 56)
Smithfield, Virginia

EDUCATION:
Hampton-Sydney College,
University of Virginia 

POLITICAL PARTY:
Whig 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1826:
Admitted to the Bar
1830-1832, 1844-1845:
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
1840-1844:
Member of the Virginia State Senate 
1847-1849:
U.S. House of Representatives
1849-1850:
U.S. Secretary of the Navy
1861:
Delegate to the Virginia State Constitutional Convention 
1862:
Confederate States Senator from Virginia 

RESOURCES:
Biographical Directory of Congress
U.S. Navy
Wikipedia