Representative Ralph Hunter Daughton - Contact Information

Ralph Hunter Daughton (September 23, 1885 – December 22, 1958) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Virginia during the mid-1940s. His tenure in Congress, from 1943 to 1947 according to existing records and from 1944 to 1947 as reflected in other contemporary accounts, coincided with the final years of World War II and the beginning of the postwar era, a significant period in American history. Over two terms in office, he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his Virginia constituents in the House of Representatives.

Daughton was born on September 23, 1885, and came of age in a period marked by rapid industrialization and social change in the United States. Details of his early life and family background are sparse in the surviving record, but his subsequent professional path indicates an early commitment to legal training and public service. He pursued the study of law, preparing for a career that would combine legal practice with political engagement at both the state and national levels.

After completing his legal education, Daughton entered the practice of law, establishing himself as an attorney and building the professional reputation that would underpin his later political career. As a lawyer, he gained experience in the interpretation and application of statutes and regulations, skills that would later inform his work as a legislator. His legal background placed him in close contact with civic affairs and the concerns of citizens, helping to shape his understanding of the issues facing his community and state.

Daughton’s political career advanced within the Democratic Party, which at the time was the dominant political force in Virginia. His involvement in party affairs and public life eventually led to his election to the United States House of Representatives. He was elected as a Democrat from Virginia and took his seat in Congress during the 78th Congress, serving through the 79th Congress. Across these two terms, covering the years from 1943 to 1947 as reflected in existing biographical records, he contributed to the work of the House during a period defined by wartime mobilization, the management of victory in World War II, and the initial transition to a peacetime economy.

During his service in Congress, Daughton participated in the democratic process as a member of the House of Representatives, engaging in debate, voting on legislation, and representing the interests of his constituents from Virginia. His tenure coincided with major national issues, including war appropriations, veterans’ affairs, and the early contours of postwar policy. As a Democratic member of the House, he worked within his party’s caucus and the committee system to influence legislation and respond to the needs of his district during a time of national and international upheaval.

After leaving Congress in 1947, Daughton returned to private life, resuming his association with the legal profession and public affairs in Virginia. Although no longer in federal office, his experience as a former Representative and practicing attorney ensured that he remained a figure of some standing in his community. He lived through the early years of the Cold War and the beginnings of the modern civil rights era, witnessing further transformations in the political landscape he had once helped to shape.

Ralph Hunter Daughton died on December 22, 1958. His career reflected the trajectory of a lawyer-turned-legislator who served his state in the national legislature during one of the most consequential periods of the twentieth century. As a Democratic Representative from Virginia, he contributed to the legislative process over two terms in the House of Representatives and took part in the governance of the nation at a time of war, reconstruction, and emerging global responsibilities.