Joseph R. Underwood
Joseph Rogers Underwood ( born October 24, 1791 Goochland County, Virginia; † August 23, 1876 in Warren County, Kentucky ) was an American politician ( Whig Party ), who represented the state of Kentucky in both chambers of Congress.
Early years
In 1803 Joseph Underwood moved to Barren County, Kentucky, where he lived with his uncle. He attended public schools and graduated in 1811 at Transylvania College in Lexington. His study course in law was interrupted by the British -American War, in which he served as a lieutenant of the 13th infantry regiment of Kentucky. In 1813 he was then taken to the bar and commenced practice in Glasgow.
Public offices
Until 1823 he worked in the governing bodies of the City and Barren County. He also belonged from 1816 to 1819 the House of Representatives from Kentucky. After moving to Bowling Green, he was from 1825 to 1826 again a member of this Parliament chamber. 1828 candidate Underwood unsuccessfully for the post of Deputy Governor; In the same year he became a judge at the Court of Appeal, which he remained until 1835.
On March 4, 1835 Joseph Underwood went for a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented the third election district of Kentucky to March 3, 1843. This year, he opted not to run again in order to return to work as a lawyer. In 1844 he was a member of the Electoral College, but not the Whig candidate Henry Clay, but the Democrats James K. Polk as U.S. president chose. In 1846 he again sat in the House of Representatives of his State and was its Speaker.
Also in 1846 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from March 4, 1847 until March 3, 1853; for re-election he not applied. Instead, he was from 1861 to 1863 one more time deputy in Kentucky. Underwood died in 1876 at Bowling Green.
Family
Joseph Underwood's Brother Warner was also politically active and was from 1855 to 1859 as a Member of the American Party to the U.S. House of Representatives on. His eldest son John was 1875-1879 Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, his grandson Oscar Underwood 1915-1927 Democratic U.S. Senator for Alabama.