James Wilson (Indiana politician)

For other people named James Wilson, see James Wilson (disambiguation).

James Wilson
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th district
In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	Daniel Mace
Succeeded by	Albert S. White
United States Minister to Venezuela
In office October 10, 1866 – August 8, 1867
Preceded by	Erastus D. Culver
Succeeded by	Thomas N. Stilwell
Personal details
Born	April 9, 1825 Crawfordsville, Indiana
Died	August 8, 1867 (aged 42) Caracas, Venezuela
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Emma Ingersoll
Children	Henry Lane Wilson, John Lockwood Wilson, Tilghman Howard Wilson
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1846–1847, 1861–1865
Rank	Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War

James Wilson (April 9, 1825 – August 8, 1867) was a United States representative from Indiana. He and his wife, Emma (Ingersoll) Wilson (daughter of Stephen Ingersoll and Hannah Elizabeth Bullard, sister to Lurton Dunham Ingersoll, were the parents of John Lockwood Wilson, Howard Wilson and Henry Lane Wilson.

Biography

James Wilson was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1825. He graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville in 1842 at the age of 17. In 1845, he graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with a degree in law.

Mexican-American War

Wilson served in the United States military during the Mexican–American War from June 17, 1846, to June 16, 1847.

Political career

After he turned to Crawfordsville in 1847, Wilson worked in the law office of Tilghman Howard (later the namesake of one of his sons), and he was admitted to the bar in 1848. Wilson became actively involved in politics in the mid-1850s, and he was a member of the newly formed Republican Party. In 1856, Wilson decided to run for the seat of 8th District Indiana Representative. During the election, Wilson defeated Daniel Wolsey Voorhees, and Wilson officially became a member of Congress on March 4, 1857. During the congressional election of 1858, Wilson was reelected. Wilson's time in Congress came to an end on March 3, 1861. He had served in the Thirty-Fifth and Thirty-Sixth Congresses of the United States of America.

Civil War

During the American Civil War, Wilson was appointed captain of Volunteers on November 26, 1862. He was honorably discharged from the military on December 6, 1865, with the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel. At the end of the war, Wilson returned to his law practice in Crawfordsville.

Later career and death

In 1866, President Andrew Johnson appointed Wilson to the position of Minister Resident to Venezuela. He served in this capacity from 1866 until his death in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 8, 1867. Wilson is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Indiana.

References

• James Wilson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009-04-20

External links

• James Wilson Bio and Speeches at Crawfordsville District Public Library

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Daniel Mace	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th congressional district March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861	Succeeded by Albert S. White
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Erastus D. Culver	United States Minister to Venezuela October 10, 1866 – August 8, 1867	Succeeded by Thomas N. Stilwell