James Shields (politician, born 1762)

For other people named James Shields, see James Shields (disambiguation).

James Shields (April 13, 1762 – August 13, 1831) was a one-term U.S. Representative from Ohio, serving from 1829 to 1831.

James Shields
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831
Preceded by	John Woods
Succeeded by	Thomas Corwin
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from Butler County
In office 1821–1823
Preceded by	Robert Anderson James Clark Joel Collins
Succeeded by	James Clark David Higgins Marsh Williams
In office 1819–1820
Preceded by	Robert Anderson Joel Collins William Murray
Succeeded by	Robert Anderson James Clark Joel Collins
In office 1811–1818
Preceded by	James Clark James Heaton John C. Imlay
Succeeded by	Robert Anderson Joel Collins William Murray
In office 1808–1810
Preceded by	William Corry James McClure
Succeeded by	James Clark James Heaton John C. Imlay
In office 1806–1807
Preceded by	James McClure Matthew Richardson
Succeeded by	William Corry James McClure
Personal details
Born	(1762-04-13)April 13, 1762 Banbridge, County Down, Kingdom of Ireland
Died	August 13, 1831(1831-08-13) (aged 69) Venice, Ohio, U.S.
Resting place	Venice Cemetery
Political party	Jacksonian
Alma mater	University of Glasgow

Biography

A descendant of the Ó Siadhail family, Shields was born in Banbridge, County Down in the Kingdom of Ireland.

He received a good common-school education, entering the University of Glasgow, Scotland in 1782 and graduated in 1786. He attended medical college for two years, before emigrating to the United States in July 1791 and settled in Frederick County, Virginia, where he taught school. He moved to Butler County, Ohio in 1801, but then returned to Virginia and became a citizen of the United States in 1804.

Political career

He returned to Ohio in 1807 and was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives between 1806 and 1827 and was an elector for Andrew Jackson in 1828. He was elected as a Jacksonian to the 21st United States Congress (March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831).

Death

Shields was killed through the accidental overturning of a stagecoach near Venice, Butler County, Ohio on August 13, 1831. He was interred in Venice Cemetery, Venice, Ohio. He was the uncle of U.S. Senator James Shields.

References

• United States Congress. "James Shields (id: S000361)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Taylor, William Alexander; Taylor, Aubrey Clarence (1899). Ohio statesmen and annals of progress: from the year 1788 to the year 1900 ... Vol. 1. State of Ohio. p. 145.