James C. Luttrell
Encyclopedia
James Churchwell Luttrell II (March 3, 1813 – July 6, 1878) was an American attorney and politician who served as Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee
, during the Civil War
. His eight-year term (1859–1867) was the longest for any Knoxville mayor until the late 20th century, when it was surpassed by Victor Ashe
's 16-year term. Luttrell also served as state comptroller
in the late 1850s, and was elected to the state senate following his term as mayor.
, the son of prominent Knox County merchant James C. Luttrell, Sr., and Martha Armstrong. Armstrong's brother and nephew built Crescent Bend
and the Bleak House, respectively, both of which still stand on Kingston Pike. Luttrell graduated from East Tennessee College (the forerunner of the University of Tennessee
) in 1832, and commenced practicing law a short time later. Luttrell was elected Register of Knox County in 1848, and was appointed postmaster of Knoxville by President Millard Fillmore
in 1849.
Luttrell was first elected mayor in 1854, and during this brief term helped oversee Knoxville's acquisition of Market Square
. In 1855, the Know Nothings, with whom Luttrell had aligned after the collapse of the Whig Party
, captured several seats in the Tennessee state legislature, and managed to appoint Luttrell comptroller. Luttrell served in this capacity until 1858, when he was again elected Mayor of Knoxville.
In many ways, the Luttrell household epitomized the divided sentiments of Civil War-era Knoxville. Luttrell himself supported the Union, and his son, Samuel, fought for the Union Army. However, his two other sons, John and James, Jr., both fought for the Confederate Army. In spite of Luttrell's Union sentiments, he was reelected mayor of Confederate-occupied Knoxville in 1862. Historian Oliver Perry Temple
recalled that when Union forces occupied Knoxville in September 1863, Luttrell unfurled a large American flag at the corner of Main Street and Gay Street
he had painstakingly saved for such an occasion.
After the war, Luttrell joined the Democratic Party
, complicating his electability in heavily-Republican post-war East Tennessee
. He was finally defeated in the mayoral election of 1866 by Knoxville businessman Marcus De Lafayette Bearden. Luttrell was elected to the state senate in 1869, but served just one two-year term. He died while visiting an associate in Nashville
in 1878.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, during the 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...
. His eight-year term (1859–1867) was the longest for any Knoxville mayor until the late 20th century, when it was surpassed by Victor Ashe
Victor Ashe
Victor Henderson Ashe II is the former United States Ambassador to Poland. From 1987 to 2003, he was mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee. Ashe is a Republican. Ambassador Ashe concluded his service as Ambassador to Poland on February 6, 2009....
's 16-year term. Luttrell also served as state comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
in the late 1850s, and was elected to the state senate following his term as mayor.
Biography
Luttrell was born in rural Knox County, TennesseeKnox County, Tennessee
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its 2007 population was estimated at 423,874 by the United States Census Bureau. Its county seat is Knoxville, as it has been since the creation of the county. The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee...
, the son of prominent Knox County merchant James C. Luttrell, Sr., and Martha Armstrong. Armstrong's brother and nephew built Crescent Bend
Crescent Bend
Crescent Bend is a historic home at 2728 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee. The building is known as Crescent Bend because of its location on a bend of the Tennessee River. It is also known as the Armstrong-Lockett House, Longview and Logueval...
and the Bleak House, respectively, both of which still stand on Kingston Pike. Luttrell graduated from East Tennessee College (the forerunner of the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
) in 1832, and commenced practicing law a short time later. Luttrell was elected Register of Knox County in 1848, and was appointed postmaster of Knoxville by President Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
in 1849.
Luttrell was first elected mayor in 1854, and during this brief term helped oversee Knoxville's acquisition of Market Square
Market Square, Knoxville
Market Square is a pedestrian mall located in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Established in 1854 as a market place for regional farmers, the square has developed over the decades into a multipurpose venue that accommodates events ranging from concerts to political rallies, and has long provided a...
. In 1855, the Know Nothings, with whom Luttrell had aligned after the collapse of the Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
, captured several seats in the Tennessee state legislature, and managed to appoint Luttrell comptroller. Luttrell served in this capacity until 1858, when he was again elected Mayor of Knoxville.
In many ways, the Luttrell household epitomized the divided sentiments of Civil War-era Knoxville. Luttrell himself supported the Union, and his son, Samuel, fought for the Union Army. However, his two other sons, John and James, Jr., both fought for the Confederate Army. In spite of Luttrell's Union sentiments, he was reelected mayor of Confederate-occupied Knoxville in 1862. Historian Oliver Perry Temple
Oliver Perry Temple
Oliver Perry Temple was an American attorney, author, judge, and economic promoter active primarily in East Tennessee in the latter half of the 19th century. During the months leading up to the Civil War, Temple played a pivotal role in organizing East Tennessee's Unionists...
recalled that when Union forces occupied Knoxville in September 1863, Luttrell unfurled a large American flag at the corner of Main Street and Gay Street
Gay Street (Knoxville)
Gay Street is a street in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that traverses the heart of the city's downtown area. Since its development in the 1790s, Gay Street has served as the city's principal financial and commercial thoroughfare, and has played a primary role in the city's historical and cultural...
he had painstakingly saved for such an occasion.
After the war, Luttrell joined the Democratic Party
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...
, complicating his electability in heavily-Republican post-war East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
. He was finally defeated in the mayoral election of 1866 by Knoxville businessman Marcus De Lafayette Bearden. Luttrell was elected to the state senate in 1869, but served just one two-year term. He died while visiting an associate in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1878.
External links
- Portrait of James C. Luttrell — Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection