Francis H. Cone

Francis Hiram Cone (September 5, 1797 – May 18, 1859) was a judge of the Georgia Superior Courts and a Georgia State Senator, who is primarily remembered for fighting and severely wounding U.S. Representative and future Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at the Atlanta Hotel in 1848.

He graduated from Yale University in 1818, and subsequently moved to Greene County, Georgia to practice law.

During this time, Cone came to know Alexander Stephens, who practiced law in nearby Taliaferro County.

As Stephens was extremely small in stature, Cone immediately gained the advantage in the fight.

He was forced to stay in bed for several weeks, and never regained full use of his right hand.