James Xavier McLanahan (May 17, 1809 – December 16, 1861) was an American lawyer and politician who served two terms as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district from 1849 to 1853.
James X. McLanahan | |
---|---|
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee | |
In office March 4, 1851 – March 4, 1853 | |
Preceded by | James Thompson |
Succeeded by | Frederick P. Stanton |
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 16th district | |
In office March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1853 | |
Preceded by | Jasper E. Brady |
Succeeded by | William H. Kurtz |
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 14th district | |
In office 1841–1842 | |
Preceded by | William R. Gorgas |
Succeeded by | Jesse C. Horton |
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 18th district | |
In office 1843–1844 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Greencastle, Pennsylvania, US | May 17, 1809
Died | December 16, 1861 New York City, US | (aged 52)
Political party | Democratic |
Early life and education
editMcLanahan was born near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, to William and Mary (Gregg) McLanahan.[1] He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Senator Andrew Gregg and second cousin to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin.[2] He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1827. He studied law under George Chambers who went on to become a Congressman and Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice.[3] He was admitted to the bar in 1837 and commenced practice in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Career
editHe served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 14th district from 1841 to 1842 and for the 18th district from 1843 to 1844.[4]
Congress
editMcLanahan was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses. He was the chairman of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary during the Thirty-second Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1852.[citation needed]
Death
editHe resumed the practice of law and died in New York City in 1861, aged 52.[citation needed]
Footnotes
edit- ^ Johnson, Rossiter (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Boston: The Biographical Society. p. 1835. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "James Xavier McLanahan (1809-1861)". archives.dickinson.edu. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ Nevin, Alfred (1876). Men of Mark of Cumberland Valley, 1776 - 1876. Cumberland County, PA: Fulton Publishing Company. p. 386. ISBN 9780608336534. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "James Xavier McLanahan". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
Sources
edit- United States Congress. "James X. McLanahan (id: M000534)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- The Political Graveyard