John Myers Felder (July 7, 1782 – September 1, 1851) was a United States politician who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing South Carolina, from 1831 to 1835.

John Myers Felder
Member of the South Carolina Senate from Orange Parish
In office
November 23, 1840 – September 1, 1851
Preceded bySanders Glover
Succeeded byMichael Grambling
In office
November 25, 1816 – December 18, 1819
Preceded byDonald Rowe
Succeeded byGeorge Gilmore Salley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1835
Preceded byWilliam D. Martin
Succeeded byJames H. Hammond
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Orange Parish
In office
November 25, 1822 – December 20, 1823
In office
November 23, 1812 – December 16, 1815
Personal details
Born(1782-07-07)July 7, 1782
Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 1851(1851-09-01) (aged 69)
Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyJacksonian
Other political
affiliations
Nullifier
Alma materYale University
Litchfield Law School
Professionlawyer, planter

Biography

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His grandfather was a native of Switzerland, came to South Carolina about 1720, and was killed during the American Revolution while defending his house against an attack by Tories. The grandson was born in the vicinity of Orangeburg, South Carolina. He graduated from Yale University in 1804, a roommate and close friend of John Caldwell Calhoun.

Early career

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After graduation, he studied at Litchfield Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1808. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1812.

Congress

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In 1830, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served in Congress for four years, first as a Jacksonian and from 1833 as a Nullifier.

Later career and death

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After declining renomination in 1834, he went back to South Carolina, where the voters of Orangeburg returned him to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1840. He served there until his death on September 1, 1851.

Felder retired from the legal profession in 1830, and became a prosperous mill owner and planter. He never married and had no children, although his sister Eliza has many descendants.

Notes

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References

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  • United States Congress. "John Myers Felder (id: F000064)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainWilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). "Felder, John Myers" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 4th congressional district

1831–1835
Succeeded by