John Littleton Dawson
Encyclopedia
John Littleton Dawson was a Democratic
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
Dawson was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania
and grew up in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
. He graduated from Washington College with a degree in law, was granted admission to the bar
in 1835, and ran a small law practice. He served as deputy attorney general for Fayette County, Pennsylvania
in 1838, and as district attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania from 1845 until 1848.
In 1848
he unsuccessfully ran for congress as a Democrat
, but on subsequent attempts he was elected and served in the 32nd
and 33rd
congresses, from March 4, 1851 until March 3, 1855, when he stepped down, declining the nomination for the next term. While serving as a congressman he was the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture
.
During his time away from congress, President Franklin Pierce
offered him the governorship of Kansas Territory
, but he declined so that he could run for congress again, which he was elected to again in 1863, and served on the 38th
and 39th
congresses from March 4, 1863 until March 3, 1867.
He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention
from Pennsylvania, 1844
, 1848
, 1860
, 1868
.
He retired to his home in Springfield Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
where he died at age 57. He was interred at Christ Episcopal Churchyard in Brownsville.
In 1860 he was honored as the namesake of Dawson County, Nebraska
in what was then Nebraska Territory.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Dawson was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Population in 1900, 7,344; in 1910, 13,344; in 1920, 15,692; and in 1940, 21,819. The population was 10,372 at the 2010 census...
and grew up in Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville, Pennsylvania
Brownsville is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States, officially founded in 1785 located 35 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River...
. He graduated from Washington College with a degree in law, was granted admission to the bar
Admission to the bar
An admission to practice law, also called admission to the bar, is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. Becoming a lawyer is a widely varied process around the world. Common to all jurisdictions are requirements of age and competence; some jurisdictions also require citizenship...
in 1835, and ran a small law practice. He served as deputy attorney general for Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in 1838, and as district attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania from 1845 until 1848.
In 1848
United States House election, 1848
Elections to the United States House of Representatives were held in 1848.The Democrats gained three seats, regaining the majority they had lost to the Whigs just two years earlier in the election of 1846....
he unsuccessfully ran for congress as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, but on subsequent attempts he was elected and served in the 32nd
32nd United States Congress
The Thirty-second 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, 1851 to March 3, 1853, during the third and...
and 33rd
33rd United States Congress
The Thirty-third 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, 1853 to March 3, 1855, during the first two years...
congresses, from March 4, 1851 until March 3, 1855, when he stepped down, declining the nomination for the next term. While serving as a congressman he was the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture
United States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
.
During his time away from congress, President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
offered him the governorship of Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
, but he declined so that he could run for congress again, which he was elected to again in 1863, and served on the 38th
38th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Before this Congress, the 1860 United States Census and resulting reapportionment changed the size of the House to 241 members...
and 39th
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth 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, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
congresses from March 4, 1863 until March 3, 1867.
He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from Pennsylvania, 1844
1844 Democratic National Convention
In 1844, the Democratic Party held their National Convention in Baltimore. At first, the Democrats were split; the three nominees for the Presidential candidate were:* Martin van Buren, a former president and leader of the dominant Jacksonian faction...
, 1848
1848 Democratic National Convention
The 1848 Democratic National Convention, a presidential nominating convention of United States Democratic Party delegates representing all thirty states in the union at the time, met in Baltimore on May 22, 1848. Former Speaker of the House Andrew Stevenson of Virginia was made the president of...
, 1860
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
, 1868
1868 Democratic National Convention
The 1868 Democratic National Convention was held at Tammany Hall in New York City. Although former Governor from New York Horatio Seymour was nominated as the unanimous candidate for President, he stood virtually no chance of defeating the hero of the Civil War, Republican candidate Ulysses S. Grant...
.
He retired to his home in Springfield Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,111 at the 2000 census. The Connellsville Area School District serves the township....
where he died at age 57. He was interred at Christ Episcopal Churchyard in Brownsville.
In 1860 he was honored as the namesake of Dawson County, Nebraska
Dawson County, Nebraska
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2010, the population was 24,326. Its county seat is Lexington.Dawson County is part of the Lexington, Nebraska, Micropolitan Statistical Area....
in what was then Nebraska Territory.
Sources
- The Political Graveyard
- Infoplease: John Littleton Dawson biography
- Nebraska State Historical Society timeline http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/timeline/dawson-john-l.htm