James M. Garnett
Encyclopedia
James Mercer Garnett was a nineteenth century politician and planter from Virginia
. He was the brother of Robert S. Garnett
, the first cousin of Charles F. Mercer
, and the grandfather of Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett
.
Born at "Mount Pleasant" near Loretto, Virginia
, Garnett was schooled by private teachers as a child and later engaged in planting. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
in 1800 and 1801 before being elected a Democratic-Republican
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1804, serving from 1805 to 1809. There, he was a member of the grand jury
that indicted former Vice President
Aaron Burr
for treason in 1807. He was not a candidate for reelection and instead returned to planting and later conducted a school for boys on his plantation. He wrote Lectures on Female Education: Comprising the First and Second Series of a Course Delivered to Mrs. Garnett's Pupils, at Elm-wood, Essex County, Virginia (1824).
Garnett served as president of the Fredericksburg Agricultural Society from 1817 to 1837, returned to the House of Delegates in 1824 and 1825 and was a member of the anti-tariff conventions of 1821 and 1831. He was one of the founders of the Virginia State Agricultural Society, was vice president of the Virginia Colonization Society, and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention
of 1829-1830. Garnett died at his estate called "Elmwood" near Loretto, Virginia
on April 23, 1843, and was interned in the family cemetery on the estate.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was the brother of Robert S. Garnett
Robert S. Garnett (congressman)
Robert Selden Garnett was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the brother of James M. Garnett and the first cousin of Charles F. Mercer....
, the first cousin of Charles F. Mercer
Charles F. Mercer
Charles Fenton Mercer was a nineteenth century politician, U.S. Congressman, and lawyer from Loudoun County, Virginia....
, and the grandfather of Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett
Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett
Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett , was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia.Garnett was the son of James Mercer Garnett and Maria Garnett. He was the grandson of James M. Garnett and nephew of Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter. He was born on his family’s "Elmwood" estate...
.
Born at "Mount Pleasant" near Loretto, Virginia
Loretto, Virginia
Loretto is an unincorporated community in Essex County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
, Garnett was schooled by private teachers as a child and later engaged in planting. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
in 1800 and 1801 before being elected a Democratic-Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
to the United States House of Representatives
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...
in 1804, serving from 1805 to 1809. There, he was a member of the grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
that indicted former Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
for treason in 1807. He was not a candidate for reelection and instead returned to planting and later conducted a school for boys on his plantation. He wrote Lectures on Female Education: Comprising the First and Second Series of a Course Delivered to Mrs. Garnett's Pupils, at Elm-wood, Essex County, Virginia (1824).
Garnett served as president of the Fredericksburg Agricultural Society from 1817 to 1837, returned to the House of Delegates in 1824 and 1825 and was a member of the anti-tariff conventions of 1821 and 1831. He was one of the founders of the Virginia State Agricultural Society, was vice president of the Virginia Colonization Society, and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
of 1829-1830. Garnett died at his estate called "Elmwood" near Loretto, Virginia
Loretto, Virginia
Loretto is an unincorporated community in Essex County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
on April 23, 1843, and was interned in the family cemetery on the estate.