James Wilson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Minister to Venezuela | |
| In office October 10, 1866 – August 8, 1867 | |
| President | Andrew Johnson |
| Preceded by | Erastus D. Culver |
| Succeeded by | Thomas N. Stilwell |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's8th district | |
| In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Mace |
| Succeeded by | Albert S. White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1825-04-09)April 9, 1825 |
| Died | August 8, 1867(1867-08-08) (aged 42) Caracas, Venezuela |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Emma Ingersoll |
| Children | 3, includingJohn andHenry |
| Alma mater | Wabash College Indiana University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States (Union) |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1847 (United States) 1861–1865 (Union) |
| Rank |  BrevetLieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
James Wilson (April 9, 1825 – August 8, 1867) was aUnited States representative fromIndiana. He and his wife, Emma (Ingersoll) Wilson (daughter of Stephen Ingersoll and Hannah Elizabeth Bullard, sister to Lurton Dunham Ingersoll, were the parents ofJohn Lockwood Wilson, Howard Wilson andHenry Lane Wilson.
James Wilson was born inCrawfordsville, Indiana, in 1825. He graduated fromWabash College in Crawfordsville in 1842 at the age of 17. In 1845, he graduated fromIndiana University inBloomington, Indiana, with a degree in law.
Wilson served in the United States military during theMexican–American War from June 17, 1846, to June 16, 1847.
After he turned to Crawfordsville in 1847, Wilson worked in the law office of Tilghman Howard (later the namesake of one of his sons), and he was admitted to the bar in 1848. Wilson became actively involved in politics in the mid-1850s, and he was a member of the newly formedRepublican Party. In 1856, Wilson decided to run for the seat of 8th District Indiana Representative. During the election, Wilson defeatedDaniel Wolsey Voorhees, and Wilson officially became a member of Congress on March 4, 1857. During the congressional election of 1858, Wilson was reelected. Wilson's time in Congress came to an end on March 3, 1861. He had served in the Thirty-Fifth and Thirty-Sixth Congresses of the United States of America.
During theAmerican Civil War, Wilson was appointed captain of Volunteers on November 26, 1862. He was honorably discharged from the military on December 6, 1865, with the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel. At the end of the war, Wilson returned to his law practice in Crawfordsville.
In 1866, PresidentAndrew Johnson appointed Wilson to the position of Minister Resident toVenezuela. He served in this capacity from 1866 until his death inCaracas, Venezuela, on August 8, 1867. Wilson is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Indiana.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 8th congressional district 1857–1861 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Minister to Venezuela 1866–1867 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
