Francis James (congressman)

Francis James (April 4, 1799 – January 4, 1886) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as an Anti-Masonic and Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district from 1839 to 1843.

Francis James
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 4th district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	See below
Succeeded by	Charles Jared Ingersoll
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 4th district
In office 1835-1836
Preceded by	George C. Smith
Succeeded by	Samuel A. Smith
Personal details
Born	April 1, 1799 Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Died	January 4, 1886 (aged 86) West Chester, Pennsylvania
Political party	Anti-Masonic Whig

Biography

Francis James was born in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He attended the local public schools and Gauses' Academy. He studied law, was admitted to the bar of Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1825 and commenced practice in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 4th district from 1835 to 1836 and the 3rd district from 1837 to 1838.[1]

James was elected as an Anti-Masonic candidate to the Twenty-sixth Congress and reelected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business during the Twenty-seventh Congress. He resumed the practice of his profession in West Chester, and served as chief burgess in 1850. He died in West Chester in 1886 and is interred at Oaklands Cemetery.[2]

Notes

1. "Pennsylvania State Senate - Francis James Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
2. "Francis James". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Francis James (id: J000049)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard