James B. Bowlin

James Butler Bowlin (January 16, 1804 - July 19, 1874) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.

Born near Fredericksburg, Virginia, Bowlin apprenticed to a trade, but abandoned it to teach school.He received a classical education.He moved to Lewisburg, Virginia, in 1825.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice in Greenbrier County.He moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1833 and continued the practice of law.He established the Farmers and Mechanics' Advocate. Chief clerk of the State house of representatives in 1836.He served as member of the Missouri House of Representatives in 1836 and 1837.He was appointed district attorney for St. Louis in 1837.He was an unsuccessful candidate for the State house of representatives in 1838.

Bowlin was elected judge of the criminal court in 1839 and served until his resignation in 1842.

Bowlin was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1843–March 3, 1851).He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Public Lands (Thirty-first Congress).He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress.He was appointed Minister Resident to New Granada by President Pierce December 13, 1854.He was appointed commissioner to Paraguay by President Buchanan September 9, 1858, and served until February 10, 1859.He resumed the practice of law.He died in St. Louis, July 19, 1874.He was interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

References

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###@@@KEY@@@###USRepSuccessionBox
state=Missouri
district=AL
before=John Miller
after=None (District dissolved)
years=1843–1847USRepSuccessionBox
state=Missouri
district=1
before=None (New district)
after=John Fletcher Darby
years=1847–1851succession box
title = United States Minister to New Granada
before = James S. Green
after = George W. Jones
years = 10 April 1855–20 May 1857