Library of Congress

BRIGHT, Jesse David, a Senator from Indiana; born in Norwich, Chenango County, N.Y., December 18, 1812; moved with his parents to Madison, Ind., in 1820; attended the public schools; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1831 and commenced practice in Madison, Jefferson County, Ind.; elected judge of the probate court of Jefferson County in 1834; United States marshal for the district of Indiana 1840-1841; member, State senate 1841-1843; lieutenant governor of Indiana 1843-1845; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1845; reelected in 1850 and 1856 and served from March 4, 1845, to February 5, 1862, when he was expelled for acknowledging Jefferson Davis as ‘President of the Confederate States’ and support of the rebellion; served as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth Congresses; chairman, Committee on Enrolled Bills (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Public Buildings (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Revolutionary Claims (Thirtieth Congress), Committee on Roads and Canals (Thirty-first through Thirty third Congresses), Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds (Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses); unsuccessful candidate for election in 1863 to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by his expulsion; moved to Carrollton, Ky., in 1863 and then to Covington, Ky.; member, State house of representatives 1866; president of the Raymond City Coal Co., 1871-1875; moved to Baltimore in 1874; died in Baltimore, Md., May 20, 1875; interment in Greenmount Cemetery.