Jacob C. Davis

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Jacob Cunningham Davis (born September 16, 1820 in Staunton , Virginia , †  December 25, 1883 in Alexandria , Missouri ) was an American politician . In 1856 and 1857 he represented the state of Illinois in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Jacob Davis attended the public schools of his home country and then the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg . In 1838 he moved to Warsaw , Illinois. After studying law and being admitted to the bar, he began to work there in his new profession. In 1841 he was employed in the administration of the local district court. He was also a member of the Warsaw militia. At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Democratic Party . He served in the Illinois Senate between 1842 and 1848 and between 1850 and 1856 .

Davis came to prominence in 1844 when he was charged with the murder of Joseph Smith , founder of Latter-day Saints , and his brother Hyrum . At the time, an angry crowd stormed the prison where the Smiths were held and killed the two. Davis was charged with commanding the local militia to order the prison storm. At the trial, both he and his four co-defendants were acquitted.

After the resignation of MP William Alexander Richardson , Davis was elected as his successor to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC , where he took up his new mandate on November 4, 1856 when the by-election was due for the fifth seat of Illinois . Since he was no longer running in the regular congressional elections of 1856 , he could only end the current legislative period in Congress until March 3, 1857 . This was shaped by the events leading up to the civil war . After his time in the US House of Representatives ended, Davis practiced law again. He died in Alexandria on December 25, 1883.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ An Eyewitness Account of the Murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith

Web links

  • Jacob C. Davis in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
personal data
SURNAME Davis, Jacob C.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Davis, Jacob Cunningham (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH September 16, 1820
PLACE OF BIRTH near Staunton , Virginia
DATE OF DEATH December 25, 1883
Place of death Alexandria , Missouri