John James Pearson

Summary

John James Pearson (October 25, 1800 – May 30, 1888) was an American politician and judge from Pennsylvania who served as an Anti-Jacksonian member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

John James Pearson
Member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
In office
1838–1842
Constituency20th district
Member of the United States House of Representatives
In office
1836–1837
ConstituencyPennsylvania's 24th district
Personal details
Born(1800-10-25)October 25, 1800
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
DiedMay 30, 1888(1888-05-30) (aged 87)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Resting placeHarrisburg Cemetery
Political party
Spouses
Ellen Hays
(m. 1828; died 1840)
Mary Harris Briggs
(m. 1842)
OccupationJudge, politician
Signature

Biography edit

Pearson was born near Darby in Delaware County, Pennsylvania to Bevan and Anne (Warner) Pearson. He moved with his parents to Mercer, Pennsylvania, in 1805. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in August 1822 and commenced practice in Mercer County.

He married Ellen Hays on October 13, 1828. She died in February 1840, and he remarried to Mary Harris Briggs on July 12, 1842.[1]

He was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Banks and served from December 5, 1836, to March 3, 1837. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1836.

He resumed the practice of law and served as a Whig member of Pennsylvania State Senate for the 20th district from 1838 to 1842.[2] He was appointed president judge of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties on April 7, 1849, and served until January 1, 1882.

He died at his home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on May 30, 1888, and was interred in Mount Kalmia Cemetery.[1]

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b "Obituary: John J. Pearson". Harrisburg Telegraph. May 30, 1888. p. 1. Retrieved June 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Pennsylvania State Senate - John James Pearson Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved January 1, 2020.

Sources edit

Further reading edit

  • Pearson, William. Decisions of the Honorable John J. Pearson: Judge of the Twelfth Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Rees Welsh & Co., Philadelphia. 1880)

External links edit

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 24th congressional district

1836–1837
Succeeded by
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 20th district
1838–1842
Succeeded by
William Stewart