U.S. Congressman. Successful in mercantile pursuits, he attended Greenville College, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1823, was clerk for the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1824, clerk of the Chancery Court of Smith County and editor of the Tennessee Republican. He also was Tennessee State’s Attorney, (1827-32), a member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1835, was the founder of Cumberland University Tennessee, in 1842 and of its law department in 1847. In 1841, he was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving until 1843. After his term, he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, (1852-61). With the advent of the Civil War, he was a member of the peace convention in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war held in Washington, D.C., in 1861. In 1862, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, but because of the occupation of the State by Federal forces never assumed the duties of the office. After the Civil War, he became a professor of law at Cumberland University and served until his death at age 82.
U.S. Congressman. Successful in mercantile pursuits, he attended Greenville College, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1823, was clerk for the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1824, clerk of the Chancery Court of Smith County and editor of the Tennessee Republican. He also was Tennessee State’s Attorney, (1827-32), a member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1835, was the founder of Cumberland University Tennessee, in 1842 and of its law department in 1847. In 1841, he was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving until 1843. After his term, he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, (1852-61). With the advent of the Civil War, he was a member of the peace convention in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war held in Washington, D.C., in 1861. In 1862, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, but because of the occupation of the State by Federal forces never assumed the duties of the office. After the Civil War, he became a professor of law at Cumberland University and served until his death at age 82.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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