James Caldwell was the first Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives

Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives

Speakers of the Missouri House of Representatives are :* 1820 James Caldwell * 1821 Henry S. Geyer * 1826 Alex Stuart * 1828 John Thornon * 1832 Thomas Reynolds * 1834 John Jameison...

.

Caldwell was born in 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...

. During the American Revolutionary War

American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...

 he served under Archibald Woods and Thomas Wright. In moved Lincoln County, Kentucky

Lincoln County, Kentucky

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

 where he served under William Whitley

William Whitley

William Whitley , was an American pioneer born in what was then Augusta County, Virginia, the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Whitley...

 in the American Indian Wars.

In 1786 he married Meeke Perrin in Lincoln County. He served in the Kentucky General Assembly

Kentucky General Assembly

The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky.The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January...

 from Harrison County, Kentucky

Harrison County, Kentucky

Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1794. As of 2010, the population was 18,846. Its county seat is Cynthiana...

 from 1800 to 1807.

In 1810 he moved to Libertyville, Missouri (five miles southeast of Farmington, Missouri

Farmington, Missouri

Farmington is a city in St. Francois County located south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St...

 in Saint Francois County, Missouri

Saint Francois County, Missouri

St. Francois County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 55,641. The 2010 Census, showed the population to be 65,359. The largest city and county seat is Farmington. The county was officially organized...

 -- although it was part of Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri

Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri

Sainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County , is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 17,842. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,720. The largest city and county seat is...

 at the time).

He was elected to the Missouri Territorial Legislature (where he served with his half brother Kinkhead) and the first Missouri House of Representatives

Missouri House of Representatives

The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...

 in 1820 and was named the Speaker.

In 1822 he was elected to the Missouri State Senate but lost re-election in 1824 to his son-in-law James Kerr

James Kerr (Texas)

James Kerr was a politician in Missouri and Texas who was active in the establishment of the Republic of Texas.-Early life and family:...