James McPherson Russell

James McPherson Russell (born November 10, 1786 in York , Pennsylvania , †  November 14, 1870 in Bedford , Pennsylvania) was an American politician . Between 1841 and 1843 he represented the state of Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives .

Career

In his youth, James Russell moved with his parents to a farm near Gettysburg . He later attended the Classical Academy of James Ross in Chambersburg . After a subsequent law degree and his admission as a lawyer in 1808, he began to work in Bedford in this profession. Between 1818 and 1819 he was also mayor there. He later became a member of the Whig Party , founded in the 1830s . In 1837 he was a member of a constitutional convention of his state.

After the death of MP Henry Black , Russell was elected as his successor to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC , where he took up his new mandate on December 21, 1841. Since he renounced another candidacy in 1842, he could only finish the current legislative period in Congress until March 3, 1843 . That period was fraught with tension between President John Tyler and the Whigs. In addition, a possible annexation of the Republic of Texas , which has been independent of Mexico since 1836, was already being discussed.

After his time in the US House of Representatives, James Russell practiced as a lawyer again. He was also curator of Bedford Academy and secretary of Chambersburg & Bedford Turnpike Co. He died on November 14, 1870 in Bedford, where he was buried. His son Samuel (1816-1891) was also a member of Congress.

Web links

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

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

predecessor	Office	successor
Henry Black	United States House Representative for Pennsylvania (18th electoral district) December 21, 1841 - March 3, 1843	Andrew Stewart