Gerard Brandon
Encyclopedia
Gerard Chittocque Brandon (September 15, 1788 March 28, 1850) was an American
political
leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood.
Brandon was born September 15, 1788, the second child and first son of the family. He was educated at Princeton University
and William and Mary College, and served in the War of 1812
. He later practiced law at Washington County, Mississippi and was a successful planter, following his father's footsteps, in Adams County, Mississippi.
He married Margaret Chambers on January 18, 1816 in Bardstown, Kentucky. After Margaret's death in June 1820, Gerard married Betsy Stanton on July 12, 1824 in Adams County, Mississippi. The governor had a total of eight children with his two wives.
Brandon died, at the age of 62, on March 28, 1850 and was buried in a private family cemetery at his Columbian Springs Plantation in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.
and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives
in 1822.
Brandon became governor of Mississippi for the first time upon the death of Walter Leake
, serving from Leake's death on November 17, 1825 until January 7, 1826, when David Holmes
, the last territorial governor and first governor of the State
of Mississippi
was again inaugurated as governor.
Brandon became governor of Mississippi again on July 25, 1826 and served until January 9, 1832.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood.
Early life and education
Gerard Brandon was the son of Irish immigrant, Gerard Chittocque Brandon, who established and ran Selma Plantation in Adams County, Mississippi and Dorothy Nugent, the daughter of Irish immigrants Matthew Nugent and Isabel MacBray. The couple moved to Mississippi from South Carolina sometime in 1785.Brandon was born September 15, 1788, the second child and first son of the family. He was educated at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and William and Mary College, and served in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He later practiced law at Washington County, Mississippi and was a successful planter, following his father's footsteps, in Adams County, Mississippi.
He married Margaret Chambers on January 18, 1816 in Bardstown, Kentucky. After Margaret's death in June 1820, Gerard married Betsy Stanton on July 12, 1824 in Adams County, Mississippi. The governor had a total of eight children with his two wives.
Brandon died, at the age of 62, on March 28, 1850 and was buried in a private family cemetery at his Columbian Springs Plantation in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.
Political life
A delegate to the constitutional conventions of 1817 and 1832, Gerard Brandon also helped draft Mississippi's first two constitutions. He served in the Mississippi LegislatureMississippi Legislature
The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year...
and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House of Representatives
-National governments:* Speaker of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda* Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives* Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize* Speaker of the House of Representatives...
in 1822.
Brandon became governor of Mississippi for the first time upon the death of Walter Leake
Walter Leake
Walter Leake served as a United States Senator from Mississippi and as Governor of Mississippi .He was the first Governor of Mississippi to die in office...
, serving from Leake's death on November 17, 1825 until January 7, 1826, when David Holmes
David Holmes (politician)
David Holmes was the last governor of the Mississippi Territory and the first governor of the State of Mississippi.-Career:...
, the last territorial governor and first governor of the State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
was again inaugurated as governor.
Brandon became governor of Mississippi again on July 25, 1826 and served until January 9, 1832.