James Semple

James Semple

James Semple (born January 5, 1798 in Green County , Kentucky , † December 20, 1866 in Elsah , Illinois ) was an American lawyer and politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Illinois in the US Senate .

Life

Semple's family moved to Clinton County , within Kentucky , when he was a boy. There he received private lessons, but also attended public schools. In 1814 he joined the US Army in two years later he was Ensign in the militia of Kentucky. In 1818 he moved to Edwardsville , Illinois, in the following year then to Chariton ( Missouri ). Later he returned to Kentucky, studied in Louisville the law , was admitted to the bar and began practicing as a lawyer in Clinton County.

In 1827 Semple settled again in Edwardsville and continued to work there as a lawyer. From 1828 to 1833 he was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives , whose speaker he was also temporarily. In 1832 he took part in the Black Hawk War , where he took part in combat operations both as a private and was a member of the military tribunal . After serving in the Illinois Parliament, he became Attorney General of the state in 1833 .

Semple's first candidacy for the US Senate in 1836 was unsuccessful. A little later he moved to Alton , before he was the successor to Robert B. McAfee from October 1837 to March 1842 as the American Chargé d'affaires in the Republic of New Granada. On his return he was a judge on the Supreme Court of Illinois between 1842 and 1843 .

After the death of US Senator Samuel McRoberts , James Semple was appointed his successor in Congress . He also won the by-election and was a member of the Senate from December 4, 1843 to March 3, 1847; he did not stand for re-election. During this time he was chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims . As a result, Semple lived again as a businessman in Alton before he moved to Jersey County in 1853 , where he founded Elsah. He died there in December 1866.

Web links

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

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