James B. Beck

James Burnie Beck (born February 13, 1822 in Dumfriesshire , Scotland , † May 3, 1890 in Washington, DC ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Kentucky in both chambers of Congress .

Born in Scotland, Beck emigrated to the United States in 1838, where he first settled in Wyoming County ( New York ). He later moved to Lexington , Kentucky, where he took up a law degree at Transylvania University . He graduated in 1846, was inducted into the bar and practiced as a lawyer in Lexington.

Beck was politically active in the Democratic Party, for which he was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1866 as a representative of Kentucky's Seventh District . He was re-elected three times and eventually had an eight-year term when he resigned on March 3, 1875.

In 1876 he was a member of a commission that was supposed to determine the exact boundary between the states of Maryland and Virginia . In the same year he was elected for Kentucky in the US Senate , which he belonged to after two re-elections until his death on May 3, 1890. He was from 1885 to 1890 the Conference Chairman of the Democrats; this was the title of group leader before the positions of Majority Leader and Minority Leader were established. He also chaired the Committee for Coastal Transport Routes.

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personal data
SURNAME	Beck, James B.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Beck, James Burnie (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	February 13, 1822
PLACE OF BIRTH	Dumfriesshire , Scotland
DATE OF DEATH	May 3, 1890
Place of death	Washington, DC