John Law (representative)

John Law (October 28, 1796 – October 7, 1873) was an American politician who represented Indiana in the United States House of Representatives from 1861 to 1865.

John Law
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1865
Preceded byWilliam E. Niblack
Succeeded byWilliam E. Niblack
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the ? district
In office
1824–1825
Personal details
Born(1910-12-02)December 2, 1910
New London, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedDecember 11, 1979(1979-12-11) (aged 69)
Evansville, Indiana, U.S
Political partyDemocratic
EducationYale College

He was the son of Lyman Law, and grandson of Richard Law, and Amasa Learned.

Biography

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Law was born in New London, Connecticut. He pursued classical studies and was graduated from Yale College in 1814. Later, he studied law and he was admitted to the bar in 1817 and he commenced practice in Vincennes, Indiana.

Early career

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Law was the prosecuting attorney 1818-1820 and a member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1824 and 1825. He was again the prosecuting attorney 1825-1828 and judge of the seventh judicial circuit 1830 and 1831. He served as the receiver of the land office at Vincennes 1838-1842 and was again a judge from 1844 to 1850, when he resigned.

Law moved to Evansville, Indiana in 1851. He invested in large tracts of land and was an author. He was appointed by President Franklin Pierce judge of the court of land claims and served from 1855 to 1857.

Congress

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He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1865) but was not a candidate for renomination in 1864.

Later career and death

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After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law. He died in Evansville, Indiana 1873 and was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Vincennes, Indiana.

Electoral history

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General election 1860[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Law 13,476 55.7
Republican Lemuel Debruler 10,731 44.3
General election 1862[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Law 11,963 53.1
National Union Johnson 10,583 46.9

References

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  1. ^ Congressional Quarterly, p. 607
  2. ^ Congressional Quarterly, p. 610
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  • United States Congress. "John Law (id: L000125)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • John Law at Find a Grave
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 1st congressional district

1861–1865
Succeeded by