James Alexander Seddon

James Alexander Seddon

James Alexander Seddon (born July 13, 1815 in Falmouth , Stafford County , Virginia , † August 19, 1880 in Goochland County , Virginia) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and from Nov. 21, 1862 to Feb. 5. 1865 Secretary of War of the Confederate States of America .

Origin and career

He was the son of the banker of investment bank Thomas and his wife Susan (Alexander) Seddon. After receiving tutoring, he graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1835 with a law degree and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1838. He was an ardent supporter of John C. Calhoun and practiced as a lawyer in Richmond . There he became known as a lawyer and in 1845 married Sarah Bruce, the daughter of a wealthy planter.

Political career

From 1845 to 1847 and from 1849 to 1851 Seddon was a member of the House of Representatives of the United States , where he rejected re-election. He then retired to his Goochland County plantation to lead the life of a squire.

Secession period

As a delegate to the unsuccessful Washington, DC Peace Conference in 1861, Seddon advocated secession. He was also a delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress in Richmond. At first he had lost the election to William Cabell Rives , but was appointed a delegate in June 1861. He was an avid supporter of Jefferson Davis , but deviated from his line of support for the government by voting for lower taxes and tax exemptions. He initially refused to run for the regular CS Congress. After the resignation of Roger Atkinson Pryor in April 1862, he ran for his successor in parliament, but lost the election. Even after the resignation of George Wythe Randolph in November 1862, he failed in the election. From November 21, 1862 to February 5, 1865 he was Secretary of War in the cabinet of CS President Davis. Davis' instinctive belligerence, which underpinned many of his decisions, and his choice of unconditional yes-sayers, determined the president's actions. Seddon saw the war on a large scale and devised much of the targeting for the Confederate offensive strategy and all-out war against the Union Army of the North . He was successful in decentralizing the command structure in the Confederate Army and creating the Western District. Despite everything, he turned out to be a bad steward of his ministry. He was unable to work with the staff at his ministry or coordinate his ideas and tactics with those of the president. On February 5, 1865, he resigned from his position and returned to his plantation. After the war he confessed that his life had been a mistake. He was interned but soon released.

post war period

Seddon went back to his business in Richmond and temporarily supported the Virginia Conservative Party . He died on August 19, 1880 on his Sabot Hill plantation in Goochland County and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery , Richmond.

literature

• Jon L. Wakelyn: Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge ISBN 0-8071-0092-7
• Ezra J. Warner + W. Buck Yearns: Biographical Register of the Confederate Congress Greenwood Press, Westport, CT + London, GBR ISBN 0-8371-6124-X

Web links

Commons : James Alexander Seddon  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• James Alexander Seddon in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Biography (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
Gustavus Woodson Smith	Minister of War the Confederate November 21, 1862 - February 5, 1865	John C. Breckinridge