James McPherson Russell

James McPherson Russell ( born November 10, 1786 in York, Pennsylvania, † November 14, 1870 in Bedford, Pennsylvania ) was an American politician. Between 1841 and 1843 he represented the State of Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Even in his youth, James Russell moved with his parents to a farm near Gettysburg. Later he attended the Academy of Classical James Ross in Chambersburg. After a subsequent law degree in 1808 and its recent approval as a lawyer, he started working in Bedford in this profession. Between 1818 and 1819 he was mayor there also. Later he became a member of the founded in the 1830s Whig party. In 1837 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of his State.

After the death of Mr Henry Russell Black was in the due -election as his successor in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he took up his new mandate on 21 December 1841. Since he resigned in 1842 to further candidacy, he could only finish the current term in Congress until March 3, 1843. This period was burdened by the tensions between President John Tyler and the Whigs. It was also at that time already been discussed about a possible annexation of the independent Republic of Texas since 1836 by Mexico.

After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives James Russell practiced as a lawyer again. He was also curator of the Bedford Academy and secretary of the Chambersburg & Bedford Turnpike Co. He died on 14 November 1870 in Bedford, where he was also buried. His son, Samuel (1816-1891) was also a congressman.