Washington Curran Whitthorne (April 19, 1825September 21, 1891) was a Tennessee attorney, Democratic politician, and an adjutant general in the Confederate Army.
Early life and career
Whitthorne was born near Petersburg, Tennessee in Marshall County. One day when Whitthorne was young James K. Polk stayed at his family's home. Polk saw how bright he was and asked, "What are you going to make of this boy?" His father replied "I am going to make him the President of the United States." On July 4, 1848, Whitthorne married Matilda Jane Campbell, a cousin of Polk.
Upon the resignation of Senator Howell E. Jackson, Whitthorne was appointed to the U.S. Senate by governor of Tennessee William B. Bate and then subsequently elected to the balance of the term by the Tennessee General Assembly, serving in the Senate from April 16, 1886, to March 3, 1887.