Alexander Boarman
Encyclopedia
Alexander 'Aleck' Boarman (December 10, 1839 – August 30, 1916) was a United States federal judge
appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
and United States Congressman. He fought in the American Civil War
for the Confederate States of America
from 1861–1865; during the war he was promoted to the rank of captain. After the war, Boarman entered politics and was elected mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
in 1866. Boarman was elected to the Western District court in 1881. He remained in this position until he died in 1916.
in 1839. He moved with his father, in 1845, to Louisiana
. He read law in 1860 and graduated from University of Kentucky
in 1860. When the American Civil War
began, Boarman joined the Confederacy
. His regiment became part of the Army of Northern Virginia
. After one year of fighting, Boarman promoted to the rank of captain in the Confederate States Army
, which he held until 1865. He served as the acting assistant Adjutant-General in the Battle of Winchester
.
, but he lost the election. Boarman then ran for Louisiana's 4th congressional district
's vacant seat. He won the election, and served as the U.S. Representative from 1872 to 1873. Boarman was unsuccessful for renomination for his Congressional Seat
.
Afterward he became a judge to the 10th Judicial Circuit of Louisiana in 1877, a position he kept until 1881. That year, on May 18, President James A. Garfield nominated him to a new seat on the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, created by 21 Stat. 507. Boarman was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 18, 1881, and received commission the same day. Boarman kept this position until he died in 1916 in Loon Lake in Franklin County, New York
. He is buried in the Oakland cemetery of Shreveport, Louisiana
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is a United States federal court with jurisdiction over approximately two thirds of the state of Louisiana, with courts in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport...
and United States Congressman. He fought in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
for the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
from 1861–1865; during the war he was promoted to the rank of captain. After the war, Boarman entered politics and was elected mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
in 1866. Boarman was elected to the Western District court in 1881. He remained in this position until he died in 1916.
Early life and military career
Boarman was born in Yazoo City, MississippiYazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
in 1839. He moved with his father, in 1845, to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He read law in 1860 and graduated from University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1860. When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began, Boarman joined the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. His regiment became part of the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
. After one year of fighting, Boarman promoted to the rank of captain in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, which he held until 1865. He served as the acting assistant Adjutant-General in the Battle of Winchester
Battle of Winchester
The Battle of Winchester may refer to any of a series of military conflicts during the American Civil War, all fought near Winchester, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley.* Battle of Winchester - during Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign...
.
Political career and later life
After the war ended, Boarman worked to become a lawyer. He was admitted to the bar in 1866. Later that year, he was elected as Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana. From 1868 until 1872, Boarman was city attorney for Shreveport. In 1872, Boarman was nominated for the office of Secretary of State of LouisianaSecretary of State of Louisiana
The Secretary of State of Louisiana is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The position was created by Article 4, Section 7 of the Louisiana Constitution.The current Secretary of State is Tom Schedler....
, but he lost the election. Boarman then ran for Louisiana's 4th congressional district
Louisiana's 4th congressional district
Louisiana's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district is located in the northwestern part of the state and is based in Shreveport-Bossier City. It also includes the cities of Minden, DeRidder, and Natchitoches.The district is currently...
's vacant seat. He won the election, and served as the U.S. Representative from 1872 to 1873. Boarman was unsuccessful for renomination for his Congressional Seat
Louisiana's 4th congressional district
Louisiana's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district is located in the northwestern part of the state and is based in Shreveport-Bossier City. It also includes the cities of Minden, DeRidder, and Natchitoches.The district is currently...
.
Afterward he became a judge to the 10th Judicial Circuit of Louisiana in 1877, a position he kept until 1881. That year, on May 18, President James A. Garfield nominated him to a new seat on the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, created by 21 Stat. 507. Boarman was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on May 18, 1881, and received commission the same day. Boarman kept this position until he died in 1916 in Loon Lake in Franklin County, New York
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
. He is buried in the Oakland cemetery of Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
.