James Archibald Meriwether
Encyclopedia
James Archibald Meriwether (September 20, 1806 – April 18, 1852) was a United States Representative
, jurist and lawyer from Georgia
. His uncle was U.S. Representative James Meriwether
.
Meriwether was born near Washington, Georgia
, in 1806 and graduated from the University of Georgia
(UGA) in Athens
with a Bachelor of Arts
(A.B.
) degree in 1826. After studying law and gaining admittance to the state bar
, he practiced law in Eatonton, Georgia
. From 1811 to 1813, he was judge of the inferior court of Clarke County, Georgia
. He was also captain of a volunteer unit during the Seminole Wars
.
From 1831 to 1836 and again in 1838, Meriwether served in the Georgia House of Representatives
as a representative of Clarke County. From 1845 to 1849, he served as a judge of the superior court for the Eatonton (Ocmulgee) district . In 1840, he was elected as a Whig
Representative from Georgia to the 27th United States Congress
and served one term from March 4, 1841 until March 3, 1843. He returned to the Georgia House in 1843, 1851 and 1852. Meriwether died on April 18, 1852, in Eatonton and was buried in that city's Union Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, jurist and lawyer from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. His uncle was U.S. Representative James Meriwether
James Meriwether
James Meriwether was a United States Representative and lawyer from Georgia. His father was David Meriwether and his nephew was James Archibald Meriwether....
.
Meriwether was born near Washington, Georgia
Washington, Georgia
Washington is a city in Wilkes County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,295 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Wilkes County...
, in 1806 and graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
) degree in 1826. After studying law and gaining admittance to the state bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
, he practiced law in Eatonton, Georgia
Eatonton, Georgia
Eatonton is a city in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,480. The city is the county seat of Putnam County. It was named after William Eaton, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War...
. From 1811 to 1813, he was judge of the inferior court of Clarke County, Georgia
Clarke County, Georgia
Clarke County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 101,489. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 114,063...
. He was also captain of a volunteer unit during the Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
.
From 1831 to 1836 and again in 1838, Meriwether served in the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
as a representative of Clarke County. From 1845 to 1849, he served as a judge of the superior court for the Eatonton (Ocmulgee) district . In 1840, he was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
Representative from Georgia to the 27th United States Congress
27th United States Congress
The Twenty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843, during the one-month...
and served one term from March 4, 1841 until March 3, 1843. He returned to the Georgia House in 1843, 1851 and 1852. Meriwether died on April 18, 1852, in Eatonton and was buried in that city's Union Cemetery.