James Fowler Simmons (September 10, 1795 – July 10, 1864) was a businessman and politician from Rhode Island who twice served as a United States senator, first as a Whig and then as a Republican.
He moved to Johnston, Rhode Island in 1827 and resumed the manufacture of yarns and engaged in agricultural pursuits; he was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1828 to 1841. His house still stands on Atwood Avenue.
United States senator
Simmons was elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate[1] and served from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1847.
While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Manufactures (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses) and a member of the Committee on Printing (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses).
Post-Senate career
After running unsuccessfully for reelection in 1846, Simmons returned to Johnston and resumed his former pursuits. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate in 1850.
Return to the U.S. Senate
Simmons was again elected to the United States Senate in 1856 as a Republican[1] and served from March 4, 1857, through the first year of the American Civil War. He was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office during the Thirty-seventh Congress.
On July 12, 1862, Senator Joseph A. Wright of Indiana submitted a resolution calling for Simmons's expulsion. Wright stated that Secretary of WarEdwin Stanton accused Simmons of securing a contract for two Rhode Island rifle manufacturers in exchange for a fee of $20,000 in promissory notes.[1]
Following these accusations, Congress passed a law barring members of Congress from accepting fees for services before agencies of the United States government.[1] On July 14, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a report stating that it found Simmons' conduct "entirely inexcusable" but that charging Simmons would be an ex post facto violation of his rights, in that his conduct had occurred before the law prohibiting it was passed. The Committee recommended that the Senate do what it felt necessary. The Senate adjourned three days later, having taken no action in Simmons' case.[1]
Simmons resigned on September 5, 1862, before the Senate could return for its December session and again take up the question of expelling him.[1]
Later life
After his resignation, Simmons resumed his former manufacturing pursuits.
Death and burial
Simmons died in Johnston in 1864. He was buried at North End Cemetery in Providence.
james, simmons, other, people, with, same, name, james, simmons, disambiguation, james, fowler, simmons, september, 1795, july, 1864, businessman, politician, from, rhode, island, twice, served, united, states, senator, first, whig, then, republican, james, si. For other people with the same name see James Simmons disambiguation James Fowler Simmons September 10 1795 July 10 1864 was a businessman and politician from Rhode Island who twice served as a United States senator first as a Whig and then as a Republican James SimmonsUnited States Senatorfrom Rhode IslandIn office March 4 1857 September 5 1862Preceded byCharles JamesSucceeded bySamuel G ArnoldIn office March 4 1841 March 3 1847Preceded byNehemiah R KnightSucceeded byJohn ClarkeMember of the Rhode Island House of RepresentativesIn office 1828 1841Personal detailsBornJames Fowler Simmons 1795 09 10 September 10 1795Little Compton Rhode Island U S DiedJuly 10 1864 1864 07 10 aged 68 Johnston Rhode Island U S Political partyWhig Before 1854 Republican 1854 1864 He is notable for having the Senate consider expelling him for corruption during his second term as a Senator Contents 1 Early life 2 United States senator 3 Post Senate career 4 Return to the U S Senate 5 Later life 6 Death and burial 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditBorn on a farm near Little Compton he attended a private school in Newport and moved to Providence in 1812 He was employed in various manufacturing concerns in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and engaged in the manufacture of yarn at Simmonsville now Thornton a village still existing in Johnston RI in 1822 He moved to Johnston Rhode Island in 1827 and resumed the manufacture of yarns and engaged in agricultural pursuits he was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1828 to 1841 His house still stands on Atwood Avenue United States senator EditSimmons was elected as a Whig to the U S Senate 1 and served from March 4 1841 to March 3 1847 While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Manufactures Twenty seventh and Twenty eighth Congresses and a member of the Committee on Printing Twenty seventh and Twenty eighth Congresses Post Senate career EditAfter running unsuccessfully for reelection in 1846 Simmons returned to Johnston and resumed his former pursuits He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate in 1850 Return to the U S Senate EditSimmons was again elected to the United States Senate in 1856 as a Republican 1 and served from March 4 1857 through the first year of the American Civil War He was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office during the Thirty seventh Congress On July 12 1862 Senator Joseph A Wright of Indiana submitted a resolution calling for Simmons s expulsion Wright stated that Secretary of War Edwin Stanton accused Simmons of securing a contract for two Rhode Island rifle manufacturers in exchange for a fee of 20 000 in promissory notes 1 Following these accusations Congress passed a law barring members of Congress from accepting fees for services before agencies of the United States government 1 On July 14 the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a report stating that it found Simmons conduct entirely inexcusable but that charging Simmons would be an ex post facto violation of his rights in that his conduct had occurred before the law prohibiting it was passed The Committee recommended that the Senate do what it felt necessary The Senate adjourned three days later having taken no action in Simmons case 1 Simmons resigned on September 5 1862 before the Senate could return for its December session and again take up the question of expelling him 1 Later life EditAfter his resignation Simmons resumed his former manufacturing pursuits Death and burial EditSimmons died in Johnston in 1864 He was buried at North End Cemetery in Providence See also EditList of federal political scandals in the United States List of United States senators expelled or censuredReferences Edit a b c d e f U S Senate James Simmons expulsion case www senate gov Retrieved November 13 2015 External links EditUnited States Congress James F Simmons id S000417 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress James F Simmons at Find a GraveU S SenatePreceded byNehemiah R Knight U S Senator Class 2 from Rhode Island1841 1847 Served alongside Nathan Dixon William Sprague III John Francis Albert C Greene Succeeded byJohn ClarkePreceded byCharles James U S Senator Class 1 from Rhode Island1857 1862 Served alongside Philip Allen Henry B Anthony Succeeded bySamuel G Arnold Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James F Simmons amp oldid 1124943415, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
