James Mason Elam (1796–1856) was a veteran of theWar of 1812 and fought theBarbary Pirates. He was an unsuccessfulWhig candidate for theUnited States House of Representatives inLouisiana in 1843.
Elam was born inNottoway County, Virginia on January 30, 1796, the son of Essex Elam and Lavinia Crowder. He enlisted in the army and served during the War of 1812, but saw no combat. He later served asEnsign aboard theU.S.S.Guerriere under the command of CaptainStephen Decatur, he was part of the crew that went on in 1815 to attack the Barbary Pirates off the coast ofAlgeria.
In 1820, Elam moved toBaton Rouge, Louisiana and became a lawyer. That year he married Rebecca Chambers. He engaged in a vigorous law practice and was politically active.
He ran unsuccessfully as a Whig for the United States House of Representatives in theThird District of Louisiana againstJohn Bennett Dawson in 1843.[1] Later, his son,James Essex Elam was electedMayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
James M. Elam died on November 7, 1856, and was buried in the family plot in theMagnolia Cemetery in Baton Rouge.[2]
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