David Jackson Bailey
Encyclopedia
David Jackson Bailey (March 11, 1812 – June 14, 1897) was an American
politician
, lawyer
and soldier who served in the United States Congress
.
, Georgia
, in 1812 and moved to Jackson, Georgia
in 1829. After studying law, Bailey was admitted to the bar in 1831 and became a practicing attorney. He was elected to the Georgia General Assembly
before he turned the age of twenty-one; however, he was not permitted to serve because of his age. During the Seminole
and Creek
Wars, Bailey was a company captain.
In 1835 and 1847, Bailey served in the Georgia House of Representatives
. He also served in the Georgia Senate
in 1838, 1849, and 1850. He was a Democratic
county convention delegate in both 1839 and 1850, and the secretary of the Georgia Senate from 1839 to 1841. Bailey was elected to represent Georgia's 3rd congressional district
in 1850 as a State Rights Representative
to the 32nd United States Congress
. He successfully ran for reelection to that seat as Democrat for the 33rd Congress
. He lost his reelection campaign in 1854 for the 34th Congress
. Bailey's federal service spanned from March 4, 1851, until March 3, 1855.
that lead to the American Civil War
. During that conflict, Bailey joined the Confederate States Army
as a colonel in the Thirtieth Regiment of the Georgia Infantry. He moved to Griffin, Georgia
, in 1861.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and soldier who served in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Early life and career
Bailey was born in LexingtonLexington, Georgia
Lexington is a city in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 239 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Oglethorpe County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, in 1812 and moved to Jackson, Georgia
Jackson, Georgia
Jackson is a city in Butts County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,934 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Butts County. The center of population of Georgia is located in Jackson. The community was named after President Andrew Jackson. Founded in 1826, Jackson began as...
in 1829. After studying law, Bailey was admitted to the bar in 1831 and became a practicing attorney. He was elected to the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
before he turned the age of twenty-one; however, he was not permitted to serve because of his age. During the Seminole
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
and Creek
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
Wars, Bailey was a company captain.
In 1835 and 1847, Bailey served in the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
. He also served in the Georgia Senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
in 1838, 1849, and 1850. He was a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
county convention delegate in both 1839 and 1850, and the secretary of the Georgia Senate from 1839 to 1841. Bailey was elected to represent Georgia's 3rd congressional district
Georgia's 3rd congressional district
Georgia's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. The district is based in west central Georgia and stretches from Columbus in the south to the southern edge of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area in the north, including Fayette, Coweta, Henry, and Spalding...
in 1850 as a State Rights Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to the 32nd United States Congress
32nd United States Congress
The Thirty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1851 to March 3, 1853, during the third and...
. He successfully ran for reelection to that seat as Democrat for the 33rd Congress
33rd United States Congress
The Thirty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1855, during the first two years...
. He lost his reelection campaign in 1854 for the 34th Congress
34th United States Congress
The Thirty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1855 to March 4, 1857, during the last two years...
. Bailey's federal service spanned from March 4, 1851, until March 3, 1855.
Secession and war
Bailey was elected again to the Georgia Senate in 1855 and 1856 and served as president of that body. He returned to practicing law in Jackson and was a member of the Georgia secession convention in 1861 that passed the Ordinance of SecessionOrdinance of Secession
The Ordinance of Secession was the document drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by the states officially seceding from the United States of America...
that lead to 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...
. During that conflict, Bailey joined 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...
as a colonel in the Thirtieth Regiment of the Georgia Infantry. He moved to Griffin, Georgia
Griffin, Georgia
Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 23,643.-Geography:Griffin is located at ....
, in 1861.