James Harlan (June 22, 1800 – February 18, 1863) was an attorney and politician, a U.S. Representative from Kentucky. He also served as US Attorney for Kentucky and, prior to that, as Kentucky Secretary of State and Attorney General, the first to be elected to the latter office statewide.
James Harlan
Black and white reproduction of 1850 portrait by unknown artist. Kentucky Historical Society.
A follower of Henry Clay, Harlan was soon involved in local and state politics. In 1833, he managed the reelection campaign of Congressman Robert P. Letcher. When Letcher decided not to run for another term, Harlan ran successfully to replace him. Harlan was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress (serving March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1839).
In 1840, Letcher, who had won election as governor of Kentucky, appointed Harlan as Secretary of State of Kentucky, an office he held for the duration of Letcher's term. In 1845, Harlan was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, serving three terms until 1851. He was elected Attorney General of Kentucky in 1850, the first man elected statewide as attorney general. He served until 1859 as the state's attorney general (during which time he wrote The Code of Practice in Civil and Criminal Cases). Two years later, Harlan was appointed U.S. Attorney for Kentucky by President Abraham Lincoln, and he served in that capacity until his death in Frankfort on February 18, 1863.
Marriage and familyedit
James Harlan married Eliza Shannon Davenport (1805–70) on December 23, 1822. The couple had six sons and three daughters. One of their sons, John Marshall Harlan (1833–1911), followed his father into the law, becoming an attorney and a judge. Ultimately he was appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, where he dissented in the important Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) civil rights case, standing up for equal rights under the law. He was also a great-grandfather of another Supreme Court justice, John Marshall Harlan II (1899–1971).
In addition, Harlan may have had a relationship with a mulatto slave and a son by her, Robert James Harlan, born in 1816. He raised the mixed-race boy in his household, where Robert was tutored by two older half-brothers. After having a successful businesses in Harrodsburg and Lexington, Robert went to California during the Gold Rush and earned a fortune of $90,000. He returned to the Midwest, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1851 and investing in real estate. He was elected as a state legislator in 1886.[4][5][6]
Referencesedit
^"Genealogy of the Harlan Family by Alpheus Harlan". Retrieved December 11, 2019.
^"George Harlan (1651-1714) - Find a Grave Memorial". Find a Grave. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
^"Elizabeth Duck Harlan (1660-1712) - Find a Grave Memorial". Find a Grave. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
^Deborah McNally, "Col. Robert James Harlan, 1816-1897", Black Past, 2015, accessed 4 April 2015
^DANZY SENNA, Review: "'A Chosen Exile,' by Allyson Hobbs", New York Times, 23 November 2014, accessed 4 April 2015
^Rayford W. Logan and Michael R. Winston, eds., Dictionary of American Negro Biography (New York: W.W. Norton, 1982)
Biography of James Harlan at Kentucky Secretary of State website
Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 266–267. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
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James Harlan June 22 1800 February 18 1863 was an attorney and politician a U S Representative from Kentucky He also served as US Attorney for Kentucky and prior to that as Kentucky Secretary of State and Attorney General the first to be elected to the latter office statewide James HarlanBlack and white reproduction of 1850 portrait by unknown artist Kentucky Historical Society Member of the U S House of Representatives from Kentucky s 5th districtIn office March 4 1835 March 3 1839Preceded byRobert P LetcherSucceeded bySimeon H Anderson26th Secretary of State of KentuckyIn office September 3 1840 September 3 1844Preceded byJames M BullockSucceeded byBenjamin Hardin12th Attorney General of KentuckyIn office 1851 1859GovernorLazarus W PowellCharles S MoreheadPreceded byM C JohnsonSucceeded byAndrew J JamesPersonal detailsBorn 1800 06 22 June 22 1800Mercer County Kentucky United StatesDiedFebruary 18 1863 1863 02 18 aged 62 Frankfort Kentucky United StatesChildrenJohn Marshall Harlan Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Political career 3 Marriage and family 4 ReferencesEarly life and career editBorn in Mercer County Kentucky Harlan descended from George Harlan 1651 1714 of County Durham England and Elizabeth Duck 1660 1712 of County Armagh Ireland who were married in a Quaker ceremony in 1678 in County Down 1 2 3 Harlan attended school before working as a clerk in a dry goods store from 1817 to 1821 Deciding to embark upon a legal career he read law under the guidance of a local judge before gaining admission to the bar in 1823 Harlan commenced practice in Harrodsburg Kentucky and enjoyed a busy but not especially remunerative legal career He served as a Commonwealth s Attorney from 1829 to 1835 Political career editA follower of Henry Clay Harlan was soon involved in local and state politics In 1833 he managed the reelection campaign of Congressman Robert P Letcher When Letcher decided not to run for another term Harlan ran successfully to replace him Harlan was elected as an Anti Jacksonian to the Twenty fourth Congress and reelected as a Whig to the Twenty fifth Congress serving March 4 1835 March 3 1839 In 1840 Letcher who had won election as governor of Kentucky appointed Harlan as Secretary of State of Kentucky an office he held for the duration of Letcher s term In 1845 Harlan was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives serving three terms until 1851 He was elected Attorney General of Kentucky in 1850 the first man elected statewide as attorney general He served until 1859 as the state s attorney general during which time he wrote The Code of Practice in Civil and Criminal Cases Two years later Harlan was appointed U S Attorney for Kentucky by President Abraham Lincoln and he served in that capacity until his death in Frankfort on February 18 1863 Marriage and family editJames Harlan married Eliza Shannon Davenport 1805 70 on December 23 1822 The couple had six sons and three daughters One of their sons John Marshall Harlan 1833 1911 followed his father into the law becoming an attorney and a judge Ultimately he was appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States where he dissented in the important Plessy v Ferguson 1896 civil rights case standing up for equal rights under the law He was also a great grandfather of another Supreme Court justice John Marshall Harlan II 1899 1971 In addition Harlan may have had a relationship with a mulatto slave and a son by her Robert James Harlan born in 1816 He raised the mixed race boy in his household where Robert was tutored by two older half brothers After having a successful businesses in Harrodsburg and Lexington Robert went to California during the Gold Rush and earned a fortune of 90 000 He returned to the Midwest settling in Cincinnati Ohio in 1851 and investing in real estate He was elected as a state legislator in 1886 4 5 6 References edit Genealogy of the Harlan Family by Alpheus Harlan Retrieved December 11 2019 George Harlan 1651 1714 Find a Grave Memorial Find a Grave Retrieved December 11 2019 Elizabeth Duck Harlan 1660 1712 Find a Grave Memorial Find a Grave Retrieved December 11 2019 Deborah McNally Col Robert James Harlan 1816 1897 Black Past 2015 accessed 4 April 2015 DANZY SENNA Review A Chosen Exile by Allyson Hobbs New York Times 23 November 2014 accessed 4 April 2015 Rayford W Logan and Michael R Winston eds Dictionary of American Negro Biography New York W W Norton 1982 United States Congress James Harlan id H000210 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Biography of James Harlan at Kentucky Secretary of State website Allen William B 1872 A History of Kentucky Embracing Gleanings Reminiscences Antiquities Natural Curiosities Statistics and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers Soldiers Jurists Lawyers Statesmen Divines Mechanics Farmers Merchants and Other Leading Men of All Occupations and Pursuits Bradley amp Gilbert pp 266 267 Retrieved 2008 11 10 U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byRobert P Letcher Member of the U S House of Representatives from Kentucky s 5th congressional districtMarch 4 1835 March 3 1839 Succeeded bySimeon H AndersonPolitical officesPreceded byJames M Bullock Kentucky Secretary of StateSeptember 3 1840 September 3 1844 Succeeded byBenjamin HardinLegal officesPreceded byM C Johnson Attorney General of Kentucky1851 1859 Succeeded byAndrew J James Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Harlan Kentucky politician amp oldid 1097262528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
