Powhatan Ellis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Mississippi | |
| In office July 14, 1832 – January 5, 1836 | |
| Appointed by | Andrew Jackson |
| Preceded by | Peter Randolph |
| Succeeded by | George Adams |
| United States Senator fromMississippi | |
| In office March 4, 1827 – July 16, 1832 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Buck Reed |
| Succeeded by | John Black |
| In office September 28, 1825 – January 28, 1826 | |
| Appointed by | Walter Leake |
| Preceded by | David Holmes |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Buck Reed |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Powhatan Ellis (1790-01-17)January 17, 1790 Amherst County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 18, 1863(1863-03-18) (aged 73) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Shockoe Hill Cemetery Richmond, Virginia |
| Party | Jacksonian |
| Education | Washington and Lee University Dickinson College (BA) College of William & Mary |
Powhatan Ellis (January 17, 1790 – March 18, 1863) was a justice of theMississippi Supreme Court,United States senator fromMississippi, and aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Mississippi.
Born on January 17, 1790, atRed Hill Farm inAmherst County,Virginia,[1] Ellis graduated from Washington Academy (nowWashington and Lee University) in 1809, received anArtium Baccalaureus degree in 1810 fromDickinson College and graduated from theCollege of William & Mary in 1814,[2] where he studied law.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice inLynchburg, Virginia from 1813 to 1814 and from 1815 to 1816.[2] He was a lieutenant in the Prevost Guards of Virginia in 1814.[2] He resumed private practice inNatchez,Mississippi Territory in 1816.[2] He continued private practice inWinchester, Mississippi Territory (State ofMississippi from December 10, 1817) from 1816 to 1817.[2] He was a justice of theMississippi Supreme Court from 1817 to 1818 and from 1818 to 1825.[2]
Ellis was appointed as aJacksonian Democrat to theUnited States Senate from Mississippi to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofUnited States SenatorDavid Holmes and served from September 28, 1825, to January 28, 1826, when a successor was elected and qualified.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to fill the vacancy.[1] He was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1827, to July 16, 1832, resigning to accept a judicial position.[1]
Ellis was nominated by PresidentAndrew Jackson on July 13, 1832, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the District of Mississippi vacated by JudgePeter Randolph.[2] He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on July 14, 1832, and received his commission the same day.[2] His service terminated on January 5, 1836, when he resigned.[2]
Ellis was appointedcharge d'affaires toMexico for theUnited States Department of State by President Jackson, serving from January 1836 to December 1836 when he closed thelegation.[1] He was appointedEnvoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico for the United States Department of State by PresidentMartin Van Buren,[2] serving from February 1839 to April 1842.[3] He resumed private practice in Natchez starting in 1842 and continued private practice inRichmond, Virginia until 1863.[2] He died on March 18, 1863, in Richmond.[2] He was interred inShockoe Hill Cemetery in Richmond.[1]
One account inThe Green Bag stated that Ellis was a descendant ofPocahontas.[4] In 1833, he married Eliza Rebecca Winn who died in the spring of 1835. Together, they had two children.[5]
The city ofEllisville, Mississippi is named in Ellis's memory.[6]
...and said to be a descendant of Pocahontas
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from Mississippi 1825–1826 Served alongside:Thomas Hill Williams | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from Mississippi 1827–1832 Served alongside:Thomas Hill Williams,Thomas Buck Reed,Robert H. Adams,George Poindexter | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Mississippi 1832–1836 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Newly established court | Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi 1818–1825 | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
