James Barbour (1828–1895)
Encyclopedia
James Barbour was a prominent American lawyer
, planter, delegate from Virginia
to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
.
in Culpeper County
, Virginia
. He was the son of John S. Barbour
, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 15th congressional district
, and his wife Ella A. Byrne.
Barbour attended Georgetown College
from September through December 1840. and attended the University of Virginia School of Law
between 1841 and 1842. Barbour studied law under John Tayloe Lomax in Fredericksburg
, Virginia and was admitted to the bar in 1844.
in Baltimore, Maryland
. A year later, Barbour was a delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention.
Mason and his wife resided with their family at Beauregard
near Brandy Station
in Culpeper County, Virginia.
, Barbour was commissioned as a major
on the staff of General Richard S. Ewell
. After a dispute with General Jubal Anderson Early
, Barbour resigned on January 30, 1863. Other sources cite ill health as Barbour's reason from resigning from service.
During the war, the Battle of Brandy Station
took place around the Beauregard estate. The mansion at Beauregard is best known as the Graffiti House
because it contains graffiti
inscribed by soldiers from both the Union Army
and the Confederate States Army
.
and served until he retired from politics in 1888.
Barbour died of pneumonia
at Clover Hill
near Jeffersonton in Culpeper County, Virginia on October 29, 1895.
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...
, planter, delegate from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
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...
during 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...
.
Early life and education
Barbour was born on February 26, 1828 at CatalpaCatalpa (Culpeper, Virginia)
Catalpa was an 18th-century plantation near Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia. Catalpa is best known as the birthplace of John Strode Barbour, Jr. , a United States House Representative and United States Senator from Virginia...
in Culpeper County
Culpeper County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was the son of John S. Barbour
John S. Barbour
John Strode Barbour, Sr. was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the father of John Strode Barbour, Jr...
, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 15th congressional district
Virginia's 15th congressional district
Virginia Congressional District 15 is an obsolete congressional district. It was eliminated in 1853 after the 1850 U.S. Census. Its last Congressman was Sherrard Clemens.-List of representatives:-References:*...
, and his wife Ella A. Byrne.
Barbour attended Georgetown College
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
from September through December 1840. and attended the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
between 1841 and 1842. Barbour studied law under John Tayloe Lomax in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, Virginia and was admitted to the bar in 1844.
Political career
Barbour participated as a delegate representing Virginia at the 1860 Democratic National Convention1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
in Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. A year later, Barbour was a delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention.
Marriage and children
Barbour married Fanny Thomas Beckham, daughter of Coleman Coals Beckham and his wife Mary C. Beckham, on September 1, 1857. The couple had seven children:- Ella B. Barbour Rixey (born February 27, 1858) m. John Franklin RixeyJohn Franklin RixeyJohn Franklin Rixey was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from Virginia's 8th congressional district from 1897 to 1907....
(1881) - Mary B. Barbour Wallace (born 1860) m. Clarence B. Wallace (1890)
- James Byrne Barbour (1864–1926)
- John Strode Barbour (August 10, 1866 – May 6, 1952) m. Mary B. Grimsley (1894)
- Edwin Barbour (January 2, 1868 – March 5, 1902) m. Josie McDonald
- A. Floyd Barbour (born July 1868)
- Fanny C. Barbour Beckham (born January 1874) m. Benjamin Collins Beckham (1899)
Mason and his wife resided with their family at Beauregard
Graffiti House
The Graffiti House, located at 19484 Brandy Road in the eastern end of the town of Brandy Station, Virginia, is believed by the Brandy Station Foundation to have been built in 1858. It is one of few dwellings in the village built before the American Civil War to survive intact to this day...
near Brandy Station
Brandy Station, Virginia
Brandy Station is an unincorporated community in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. Its original name was Brandy. The name Brandy Station comes from the Orange and Alexandria Railroad station that was constructed in the 19th century....
in Culpeper County, Virginia.
American Civil War
After the onset of the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
, Barbour was commissioned as a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on the staff of General Richard S. Ewell
Richard S. Ewell
Richard Stoddert Ewell was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E...
. After a dispute with General Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served under Stonewall Jackson and then Robert E. Lee for almost the entire war, rising from regimental command to lieutenant general and the command of an infantry corps in the Army of Northern Virginia...
, Barbour resigned on January 30, 1863. Other sources cite ill health as Barbour's reason from resigning from service.
During the war, the Battle of Brandy Station
Battle of Brandy Station
The Battle of Brandy Station, also called the Battle of Fleetwood Hill, was the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the American Civil War, as well as the largest to take place ever on American soil. It was fought at the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign by the Union cavalry under Maj....
took place around the Beauregard estate. The mansion at Beauregard is best known as the Graffiti House
Graffiti House
The Graffiti House, located at 19484 Brandy Road in the eastern end of the town of Brandy Station, Virginia, is believed by the Brandy Station Foundation to have been built in 1858. It is one of few dwellings in the village built before the American Civil War to survive intact to this day...
because it contains graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
inscribed by soldiers from both the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and 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...
.
Later life
After the war, Barbour acquired a controlling interest in the Richmond Daily Enquirer and Examiner on July 15, 1867 and became its editor. Barbour owned the newspaper until January 30, 1870. In 1885, Barbour successfully ran for the Virginia House of DelegatesVirginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and served until he retired from politics in 1888.
Barbour died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at Clover Hill
Clover Hill (Culpeper, Virginia)
Clover Hill is an 18th-century plantation house near Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia. Clover Hill is best known for serving as the headquarters for Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer during the American Civil War...
near Jeffersonton in Culpeper County, Virginia on October 29, 1895.