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Senate Years of Service: 1843-1847 Party: Democrat
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SEMPLE, James, a Senator from Illinois; born in Green County, Ky., January 5, 1798; moved with
his parents to Clinton County; received private instruction and attended the common schools; enlisted
in the Army in 1814; ensign in the Kentucky Militia in 1816; moved to Edwardsville, Ill., in 1818 and
to Chariton, Mo., in 1819, where he engaged in business; elected as a commissioner of the loan office;
studied law in Louisville, Ky.; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Clinton County, Ky.;
returned to Edwardsville, Ill., in 1827 and continued the practice of law; member, State house of
representatives 1828-1833, serving as speaker four years; served as a private, adjutant, and judge
advocate during the Black Hawk War; attorney general of Illinois in 1833; unsuccessful candidate for
election in 1836 to the United States Senate; moved to Alton, Ill., in 1837; Charge dAffaires to
Colombia 1837-1842; judge of the State supreme court 1842-1843; appointed and subsequently
elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel
McRoberts and served from December 4, 1843, to March 3, 1847; was not a candidate for
renomination in 1846; chairman, Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress);
returned to Alton and engaged in the real estate business; moved to Jersey County, Ill., in 1853 and
founded the town of Elsah; continued in the real estate business; also engaged in literary pursuits;
died in Elsah, Ill., December 20, 1866; interment in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.
BibliographyBurton, William L. James Semple, Prairie
Entrepreneur. Illinois Historical Journal 80 (Summer 1987): 66-84.
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