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Rebecca Latimer Felton (June 10, 1835-January 24, 1930) was the first woman to serve in the United States Senate.
Born in Decatur, Georgia, Felton also holds the record for the oldest person to enter the Senate (being 87 years old upon beginning her term). The oldest Senator ever, however, was 100-year-old Senator Strom Thurmond, who entered the Senate at the age of 51.
Felton was the widow of Congressman William Harrell Felton, who served from 1875 to 1881. William Felton died in 1909 at the age of 86 while Rebecca Felton was 64.
On November 21, 1922, Felton was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Thomas E. Watson of Georgia until Walter George won a special election to replace Watson. George took office on November 22, 1922, so Felton holds the record for the shortest time in office of any Senator—two days.
Felton died in Atlanta, Georgia.
[1] (http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/First_Woman_Senator_Appointed.htm)
See also: Hattie Caraway.
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