Alfred was born on April 20, 1824, in Walton County, Georgia. Educated in local schools, he graduated from Princeton University in 1844. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in Georgia in 1846 and joined the army to fight in the Mexican War. He left the service as a major and staff officer, returned to his law practice, and became active in politics. Colquitt served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1852 - 1854, not running for reelection due to the failing health of his first wife. In 1858 - 1859, Colquitt served in the Georgia House of Representatives (representing Baker County) and later served as a member of the state secession convention. Once Georgia left the Union in January of 1861, Colquitt became a captain in the Confederate Army and rose in rank to major general. After the war ended, Colquitt was elected governor of Georgia in 1876 and served from 1877 to 1882. After finishing out Benjamin H. Hill's U.S. Senate term (appointed by gubetorial decree), Colquitt was elected to represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate from 1883 until his death in 1894.