U.S. Congressman, Presidential Cabinet Member, Confederate Army General. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1831, was a member of the University faculty (1831-32), studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1834 and commenced to practice law in Pontotoc, Mississippi, in 1835. In 1839, he was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth Congress and to the next five succeeding Congresses, serving until 1851. An unsuccessful candidate for reelection, he was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Buchanan in 1857, serving until the advent of the Civil War when he resigned in 1861. During the Civil War, he became Inspector General of the Confederate Army and also was present at several battles such as Vicksburg, Corinth and Tupelo. In addition, he was an agent of the Confederate Secret Service for operations in Canada, (1864-65). After the war, he settled in Memphis, Tennessee, managed his personal business affairs and served on the board of the University of the South until his death at age 74.
U.S. Congressman, Presidential Cabinet Member, Confederate Army General. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1831, was a member of the University faculty (1831-32), studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1834 and commenced to practice law in Pontotoc, Mississippi, in 1835. In 1839, he was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth Congress and to the next five succeeding Congresses, serving until 1851. An unsuccessful candidate for reelection, he was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Buchanan in 1857, serving until the advent of the Civil War when he resigned in 1861. During the Civil War, he became Inspector General of the Confederate Army and also was present at several battles such as Vicksburg, Corinth and Tupelo. In addition, he was an agent of the Confederate Secret Service for operations in Canada, (1864-65). After the war, he settled in Memphis, Tennessee, managed his personal business affairs and served on the board of the University of the South until his death at age 74.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Jacob Thompson
Born In
Caswell Co. N.C.
May 15, 1810
Died
March 24, 1885
"Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord Yea, saith
the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labours; and their
works do follow them."
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