James Harper (congressman)

James Harper ( born March 28, 1780 in Castlederg, County Tyrone, Ireland, † March 31, 1873 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ) was an American politician. Between 1833 and 1837 he represented the State of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Even in his youth came James Harper from his Irish home to Philadelphia, where he attended the public schools. He then worked in the production of bricks. Between 1820 and 1830 he also worked in the food trade. In the 1820s he joined the movement against the future President Andrew Jackson and became a member of the short-lived National Republican Party.

In the congressional elections of 1832 Harper was in the second electoral district of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of Henry Horn on March 4, 1833. After a re-election he was able to complete in Congress until March 3, 1837 two legislative sessions. These were determined by the discussions about the policy of President Jackson. As a supporter and follower of Henry Clay Harper was a determined opponent of Jackson, whose government he accused of corruption. In 1836 he gave up another candidacy.

After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives Harper again worked as a producer of bricks. Furthermore, he was occasionally engaged in the real estate industry. In 1869, he withdrew into retirement. He was a member of the Committee for the care of the poor ( the board of guardians of the poor ) and the Committee to review the penal institutions of his state. James Harper died on March 31, 1873 in Philadelphia, where he was also buried. He was married to Charlotte Alford.