Stephens, Alexander Hamilton (1812–1883)

US public official. A leader of the Whig party, he served in the US House of Representatives 1843–59 and was an opponent of the Mexican War 1846–48 and a strong defender of slavery. In 1861 he was chosen as vice-president of the Confederacy. Arrested and briefly imprisoned at the end of the American Civil War 1865, he served again as US Congressman 1872–82.

Stephens was born in Taliaferro County, Georgia, educated at the University of Georgia, and qualified as a lawyer in 1834. He served in the Georgia state legislature 1836–41 and as governor of Georgia 1882–83.

In Congress Stephens urged the annexation of Texas 1845, and secured the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854. He opposed the secession of Georgia 1860.