John Chambers (October 6, 1780 – September 21, 1852) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky and the second Governor of the Iowa Territory. He was appointed by President William Henry Harrison.[1]
John Chambers | |
|---|---|
 John Chambers, from an oil painting | |
| 2nd Governor of Iowa Territory | |
| In office 1841–1845 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Lucas |
| Succeeded by | James Clarke |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 12th district | |
| In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1839 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas A. Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Garrett Davis |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district | |
| In office December 1, 1828 – March 3, 1829 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Metcalfe |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas D. Coleman |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | |
| In office 1812 1815 1830–1831 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 6, 1780 Somerset County, New Jersey |
| Died | September 21, 1852 (aged 71) Paris, Kentucky |
| Political party | Anti-Jacksonian, Whig |
| Signature |  |
Education & early career
editChambers was born at Bromley Bridge, Somerset County, New Jersey, on October 6, 1780, a son of Roland Chambers (1744–1821) and Phoebe (Mullican) Chambers.
He attended the public schools and the Transylvania Seminary at Lexington, Kentucky. In 1794 he moved with his father to Washington, Mason County, Kentucky. After studying law he was admitted to the bar in 1800 and commenced practice in Washington, Kentucky. He owned slaves.[2] Chambers served as aide-de-camp to General William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812 and was at the Battle of the Thames. He served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1812, 1815, 1830, and 1831. In 1825, Chambers was appointed judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He resigned in 1827.
U.S. Congressional career
editHe was elected as a pro-Adams candidate to the Twentieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas Metcalfe and served from December 1, 1828, to March 3, 1829; elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress, and reelected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1839); chairman, Committee on Claims (Twenty-fifth Congress).
Chambers represented the counties of Pendleton, Bracken, Robertson, Nicholas and Bourbon.[3]
After Congress
editChambers was appointed Governor of the Iowa Territory in 1841, serving until 1845. He was then appointed commissioner to negotiate a treaty with the Sioux Indians in Minnesota Territory in 1849, and was unsuccessful.[4] He died near Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, September 21, 1852, and was interred in the family burial ground at Washington, in Mason County, Kentucky.
Personal life
editHe married Margaret Taylor (b. May 22, 1781), daughter of Major Ignatius Taylor (1742–1807), on June 16, 1803. She died on March 4, 1807. They had no surviving children.
He married secondly, on October 29, 1807, to Hannah Lee Taylor (January 9, 1791 – November 11, 1832), daughter of Major Ignatius Taylor with his second wife, Barbara Bowie (1756–1805). Hannah was a half-sister to John's first wife Margaret. John and Hannah had twelve children; Margaret Taylor (1808–1863), Joseph Sprigg Taylor, Hannah Lee Taylor, James Taylor, Matilda Taylor, Francis Taylor, Jane Taylor, Mary Taylor, Laura Taylor, John Taylor, James Taylor, Henry Taylor, Lucretia Taylor.
References
edit- ^ Iowa Columbian Commission Committee of Archaeological, Historical and Statistical Information (1893). A Hand Book of Iowa: Or The Discovery, Settlement, Geographical Location ... and the Excellence of the Social and Moral Life of the State of Iowa. The Commission. p. 143.
- ^ "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 13, 2022, retrieved July 7, 2022
- ^ Mathis, Kenneth C. Historical Atlas of Political Parties in Congress p. 93
- ^ Folwell, William Watts (1921). A History of Minnesota. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press. pp. 271–274.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "John Chambers (id: C000285)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Parish, John Carl (1909). John Chambers. State Historical Society of Iowa. Retrieved November 22, 2008.[permanent dead link]