James Cooper (politician)

James Cooper

James Cooper (born May 8, 1810 in Frederick County , Maryland , †  March 28, 1863 in Columbus , Ohio ) was an American politician ( Whig Party ) who represented the state of Pennsylvania in both chambers of Congress . He also took part in the civil war as an officer in the Union Army .

After finishing school, James Cooper attended Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1832. As a result, he studied law , was admitted to the bar in 1834 and began to practice as a lawyer in Gettysburg .

On March 4, 1839 Cooper moved after a successful election as a representative of the twelfth congressional electoral district of Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives of the United States , where he remained after a confirmation until March 3, 1843; during this time he served, among other things, as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs . He then sat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1843 to 1844 and in 1846 and 1848 . Cooper was also Speaker of the Chamber there for one term ; he also became Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 1848 . In the meantime he moved to Pottsville .

As the successor to Simon Cameron , Cooper was a member of the United States Senate from March 4, 1849 , in which he served a term until March 3, 1855. After the outbreak of the Civil War he was authorized by President Abraham Lincoln to set up a Brigade for the Union of Loyal Maryland Soldiers; from 1861 he held the rank of brigadier general . After serving with his men initially in West Virginia under the command of General John C. Frémont , he was appointed in 1863 as commandant of Camp Chase near Columbus. There he died, ill health, on March 28, 1863. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick .

Web links

• James Cooper in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• James Cooper in the database of Find a Grave (English)