James McDowell | |
|---|---|
 Daguerreotype portrait of Governor McDowell | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's11th district | |
| In office March 6, 1846 – March 3, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | William Taylor |
| Succeeded by | John Letcher |
| 29th Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 1, 1843 – January 1, 1846 | |
| Preceded by | John Munford Gregory(acting) |
| Succeeded by | William Smith |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates | |
| In office 1831–1835 1838 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 13, 1795 Rockbridge County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 1851 (aged 55) Lexington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Susanna Smith Preston |
| Signature | .png) |
James McDowell (October 13, 1795 – August 24, 1851) was the29th Governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846 and was aU.S.Congressman from 1846 to 1851.
McDowell was born at "Cherry Grove," nearRockbridge County, Virginia, on October 13, 1795. He attended a classical school atGreenville, Virginia, a private school at Brownsburg, Washington College (nowWashington and Lee University),Lexington, Virginia, andYale College. He graduated fromPrinceton University in 1817 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar but did not practice. He was a member of the State house of delegates 1831–1835 and again in 1838. He was chosen as Governor of Virginia in 1843. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofWilliam Taylor. He was reelected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses and served from March 6, 1846, to March 3, 1851. McDowell died on his estate "Col Alto" near Lexington on August 24, 1851. He was interred in Presbyterian Cemetery.
McDowell was the brother-in-law ofSenatorThomas Hart Benton.McDowell County, Virginia (now part of West Virginia) was formed in 1858 and named in honor of Governor McDowell.[1]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by John Munford Gregory Acting Governor | Governor of Virginia 1843–1846 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's 11th congressional district March 6, 1846 – March 3, 1851 | Succeeded by |
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's 11th congressional district | ||
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