- James McDowell
James McDowell (
October 13 ,1795 –August 24 ,1851 ) was a U.S.Congressman andGovernor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846.McDowell was born at "Cherry Grove," near
Rockbridge County, Virginia , onOctober 13 1795 . He attended a classical school atGreenville, Virginia , a private school at Brownsburg, Washington College (nowWashington and Lee University ),Lexington, Virginia , andYale College He graduated fromPrinceton College in 1817 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar but did not practice. He was a member of the State house of delegates 1831-1835 and again in 1838. He was chosen as Governor of Virginia in 1843. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Taylor. He was reelected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses and served fromMarch 6 ,1846 , toMarch 3 ,1851 . McDowell died on his estate "Col Alto" near Lexington, August 24, 1851. He was interred in Presbyterian Cemetery.McDowell was the brother-in-law of Senator Thomas Hart Benton.
McDowell County, West Virginia was formed in 1858 and named in honor of Governor McDowell.
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