William Leigh Brent

William Leigh Brent (1784–1848) was a U.S. Representative representing Louisiana's 3rd congressional district. Brent was born at Port Tobacco, Maryland, on 1784 February 20, the nephew of Virginia congressman Richard Brent. He studied law and was admitted to the bar of Maryland and moved to Louisiana about 1809 and commenced the practice of law there. Brent was appointed by President James Madison as Deputy Attorney General for the western district of the Territory of Orleans. In 1822 he was elected as an Adams-Clay Republican to the Eighteenth Congress and as an Adams Republican to the Nineteenth, and Twentieth Congresses. He served from 1823 March 4 to 1829 March 3. Representative Brent was a founding member of Louisiana's Whig Party, but was not again a candidate for public office. Brent resumed the practice of law in Louisiana and in Washington, D.C.. He died in St. Martinville, Louisiana, on 1848 July 7. He is buried there in St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery.

References

Congressional Biography