John J. Hardin

John J. Hardin

John Jay Hardin (born January 6, 1810 in Frankfort , Kentucky , †  February 23, 1847 in Buena Vista , Mexico ) was an American politician . Between 1843 and 1845 he represented the state of Illinois in the US House of Representatives .

Career

John Hardin was the son of US Senator Martin D. Hardin (1780-1823). He received a classical education and studied at Transylvania University in Lebanon . After a subsequent law degree and his admission to the bar in 1831, he began to work in Jacksonville (Illinois) in this profession. He was a member of the Illinois Militia in 1831 and 1832 during the Black Hawk War . In 1844, as brigadier general, he commanded the militia forces used in Hancock County to engage in violence between Mormons and other citizens. He later became major general in the militia. In 1832, Hardin became a Morgan County attorney . Politically, he joined the Whig Party . Between 1836 and 1842 he was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives .

In the congressional elections of 1842 Hardin was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC , in the then newly established seventh constituency of Illinois , where he took up his new mandate on March 4, 1843. Since he renounced another candidacy in 1844, he could only complete one legislative period in Congress until March 3, 1845 . This period was marked by 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.

During the Mexican-American War that followed, Hardin set up an infantry regiment from Illinois, which he commanded himself with the rank of colonel. In this capacity he fell at the Battle of Buena Vista on February 23, 1847.

According to him, Hardin County named in Iowa.

Web links

• John J. Hardin in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• John J. Hardin in the database of Find a Grave (English)