James Jones (Georgia politician)

James Jones (died January 11, 1801) was an American politician and lawyer from the state of Georgia.[1]

James Jones
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's at-large congressional district
In office March 4, 1799 – January 11, 1801
Preceded by	Abraham Baldwin
Succeeded by	John Milledge
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office 1797 - 1799
Personal details
Born	James Jones Maryland
Died	Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Congressional Cemetery
Political party	Federalist Party
Profession	lawyer

Early years and education

Jones moved with his uncle to Georgia in 1740. He studied law in Savannah, Georgia, and gained admission to the state bar and became a practicing attorney. In 1790, he also served as a first lieutenant in the Georgia Militia.

Political office

Elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1796, Jones was reelected to that body in 1798, but subsequently resigned. While seeking re-election to the Georgia House of Representatives, Jones simultaneously ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. In the election of 1798, Georgia used a statewide at-large method for electing two members to serve in the 6th Congress of the United States.[2] Jones received 4,264 votes (37.3%), ahead of second place finisher Benjamin Taliaferro who received 3,823 votes (33.4%).[2] Both Jones and Taliaferro ran as candidates on the Federalist Party ticket. The incumbent, Abraham Baldwin, running as a Democratic-Republican, came in a distant third with 3,135 votes (27.4%)[2] Jones resigned from the Georgia General Assembly and took his seat in congress, instead. In 1798, Jones also served on the state constitutional convention.

Death and legacy

Jones died while still serving in that position in 1801 and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.. Jones County, Georgia, was named in his honor.[3]

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

1. James Jones, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
2. "6th Congress: Georgia 1798". Mapping Early American Elections. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 170.

External links

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.
• United States Congress. "James Jones (id: J000227)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• William J. Northen, Men of Mark in Georgia, A. B. Caldwell, 1912, pp. 360–361.
• Political Graveyard entry for James Jones