John Selden Roane

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John Selden Roane

John Selden Roane (born January 8, 1817 in Lebanon , Tennessee , † April 8, 1867 in Pine Bluff , Arkansas ) was an American politician and between 1849 and 1852 governor of the state of Arkansas.

Early years and political advancement

John Roane attended local schools in Wilson County , Tennessee. He then attended Cumberland College in Princeton , Kentucky . In 1837 he came to Arkansas where he studied law. After graduating and admitted to the bar, he was prosecutor in the state's Second Judicial District between 1840 and 1842.

Between 1842 and 1844 Roane was a member of the House of Representatives from Arkansas and at times speaker of this chamber. During the Mexican-American War he was a lieutenant colonel in the infantry regiment commanded by former governor Archibald Yell . After this fell at Buena Vista, Roane took command of this unit. His military abilities were controversial and Roane even challenged one of his critics to a duel in which nobody was injured. Due to the resignation of Governor Thomas Stevenson Drew at the beginning of 1849, new elections for this office were advertised, in which Roane ran as a candidate for the Democratic Party for this office.

Arkansas Governor

After the successful election, Roane was able to take up his new office on April 19, 1849. In his term of office, which ran until November 15, 1852, he campaigned for the further expansion of the infrastructure and increased the budget for education. At that time, Calhoun County and Sebastian Counties were two new counties in Arkansas. His tenure was otherwise overshadowed by a conflict with the House of Representatives, particularly on financial issues.

After his tenure ended, Roane worked as a lawyer. During the Civil War he served as Brigadier General in the Confederation Army . His job was the defense of Arkansas. He took part in some skirmishes. After the war he returned to Pine Bluff, where he suddenly died in 1867. John Roane was married to Mary K. Smith, with whom he had three children.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

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