Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/324

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fie was appointed attorney-general of the ttrritory in 1803, and conducted the prose- cution of Aaron Burr. His violent denun- ciations of the Federalists resulted in a challenge from Abijah Hunt, whom he killed in the duel that ensued. He was elected to the legislature in 1805, and in 1807 was a delegate to congress, serving until 18 1 3, when he was appointed United States judge for the territory of Mississippi, and he so administered the law as to settle many conflicting land grant titles, and repress the criminal classes. He aided in the prepara- tions for the war of 1812, and joined Gen. Jackson, to whom he served as an aide at the battle of New Orleans. In the Missis- sippi constitutional convention of 1817 he was chairman of the committee to draft a state constitution, and when Mississippi was received into the Union, he was its first representative in congress, and proved an able defender of President Jackson. After serving one term in congress, he was elected governor of Mississippi, and, under auth- ority of the legislature, he completed and published the "Revised Code of the Laws of Mississippi," (Natchez. 1824). In 1821 he returned to the bar, and continued practice until 1830. when he was appointed to the United States senate to fill a vacancy, then being elected, and serving until 1835. Dur- ing his senatorial service, became estranged from Jackson, occupying ground midway between Clay and Calhoun, but leaning to- wards the latter. He strenuously opposed the appointment of the president's personal friends to office in Mississippi, and voted for Clay's resolution of censure. In 1835 he located in Louisville. Kentucky, but subse- quently returned to Mississippi, and died at Jackson, that state, September 5, 1853.

Bowlin, James Butler, born in Spottsyl- vania county, Virginia, in 1804. He was early apprenticed to a trade, but abandoned it, and taught school while acquiring a classical education. In 1825 he settled in Greenbrier county, where he studied law, v/as admitted to the bar, and began prac- tice. He removed to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1833, ^"d there followed his profession, also establishing the ''Farmers* and Mechanics' Advocate." In 1836 he was a member of the state legislature, and for some time its chief clerk. A year later he became district attorney for St. Louis, and in 1839 was elected judge of the criminal court. Atter- w ard he was elected to congress as a Demo- crat, and served from December i, 1843, to March 3, 1S51. From 1854 till 1857 he was minister resident in Colombia, and from 1858 till 1859 commissioner to Paraguay.

Webb, Thomas T., born in Virginia, about 1806. He entered the navy as a midship- man. Januarv i, 1808, and was promoted to lieutenant, December 19, 1814. He served in the navy during the war of 1812, cruised in the frigate Macedonian^ of the Mediter- ranean station in 1815-18 during the Alger- ine war, was attached to the Norfolk navy yard in 1818-21. cruised in the sloop John Adams^ in the West Indies in 1821-24, served in the receiving-ship Alert, at Norfolk in 1825-26. and at the navy-yard, Pensacola. 1828-29. He commanded the schooner Shark in the West Indies in 1836-32, was promoted to master-commandant, March 8, 1831. and commanded the sloop Vandalia, on the coast of Florida, in 1835-36. In 1837 he was on leave, and in 1838-41 he com- manded the receiving-ship at Norfolk. He was promoted to captain. March 8, 1841, and

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