John Winston Jones

Born November 22, 1791 in Amelia County, Virginia, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1813. He practiced law in Chesterfield County, Virginia before being appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Virginia's 5th Judicial Circuit in 1818. He was a delegate to the 1829–30 state constitutional convention.

Jones was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1835, and served five terms. He was Speaker of the House during the 28th Congress (1843–45).

Jones declined nomination for a sixth term in Congress and returned to Virginia in 1845. The following year he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and was chosen as Speaker. He was elected to a second term in 1847, but did not attend the session due to illness. He resigned his seat on December 17.

Jones married Harriet Boisseau and together they had three children: Mary Winston, James Boisseau and Alexander. He is also an ancestor of early 20th century photographer O. Winston Link.

Jones died on January 29, 1848. He is buried in the family cemetery at his Dellwood Plantation northwest of Petersburg, Virginia.

• 1835; Jones was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 68.09% of the vote, defeating Whig William Segar Archer.
• 1837; Jones was re-elected unopposed.
• 1839; Jones was re-elected with 58.51% of the vote, defeating a Whig identified only as Taylor.
• 1841; Jones was re-elected with 69.47% of the vote, defeating Independents Junius E. Leigh and Thomas Miller.
• 1843; Jones was re-elected unopposed.

• Jamerson, Bruce F., Clerk of the House of Delegates, supervising (2007). Speakers and Clerks of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1776-2007. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia House of Delegates.

• Dellwood Plantation
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress