William Winter Payne

Who was William Winter Payne?

William Winter Payne was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.

Born at "Granville," near Warrenton, Virginia, Payne completed preparatory studies. He studied law but never practiced. He moved to Franklin County, Alabama, in 1825 and engaged in planting. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1831. He moved to Sumter County, Alabama. He was again a member of the State house of representatives 1834-1838 and in 1840. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the State senate in 1839.

Payne was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, and Twenty-ninth Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on Elections. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1846 to the Thirtieth Congress. He returned to Virginia in 1847 and engaged in planting near Warrenton. He served as chairman of the Democratic State convention in 1859. He died in Warrenton, Virginia, September 2, 1874. He was interred in the City Cemetery.