Rebecca Latimer Felton
Felton, Rebecca Latimer (1835–1930), a United States woman suffrage leader. She was the first woman to serve as a United States senator. She was appointed senator in October, 1922, by Governor Thomas W. Hardwick of Georgia, to fill the seat vacated by the death of Thomas E. Watson. She sat in the Senate only two days, November 21–22, 1922, before her elected successor qualified. Felton was born near Decatur, Georgia. Her husband, William Harrell Felton (1823–1909), served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1875–81. Both were Democrats who opposed conservatives of the party.