McDowell, James (Congressman)

Born: 1795-10-13 Rockbridge County, Virginia

Died: 1851-08-24 Lexington, Virginia

Born at "Cherry Grove," near Rockbridge County, Virginia, James McDowell attended a classical school in Greenville, Virginia, a private school in Brownsburg, Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), and Yale College. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1817 and studied law. McDowell earned admittance to the bar, but did not practice. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1831-35 and later in 1838. He won election and served as governor of Virginia in 1843-46. McDowell won election, as a Democrat, to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill a vacancy in 1846. He won reelection to the next two Congresses, and served alongside Abraham Lincoln during the Thirtieth Congress. McDowell served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1846-51. He died later that same year on his estate "Colalto."

Joel D. Treese, ed., Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1996 (Alexandria, VA: CQ Staff Directories, 1997), 1481; Gravestone, Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, VA.