James Ferguson Dowdell
Encyclopedia
James Ferguson Dowdell was the second President of the East Alabama College, now known as Auburn University
, from 1868 to 1870, and a U.S. Representative
from Alabama
.
. Dowdell completed preparatory studies and in 1840 and graduated from Randolph-Macon College
, Ashland, Virginia
. He studied law
. He was admitted to the bar
in 1841 and commenced practice in Greenville, Georgia
. He moved to Oak Bowery, Alabama
, in 1846 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the State house of representatives in 1849 and 1851.
Dowdell was elected as a Democrat
to the Thirty-third
, Thirty-fourth
, and Thirty-fifth
Congresses (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859). During the Civil War
he served as colonel
of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Alabama Volunteer Infantry, under General Price
from 1862 until the close of the war.
From 1868 to 1870, he served as the second President of the East Alabama College, now known as Auburn University
.
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, from 1868 to 1870, and a U.S. 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...
from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Biography
James Ferguson Dowdell was born on November 26, 1818, near Monticello, GeorgiaMonticello, Georgia
Monticello is the largest city and the county seat of Jasper County, Georgia , United States. The population was 2,428 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Monticello is located at ....
. Dowdell completed preparatory studies and in 1840 and graduated from Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
, Ashland, Virginia
Ashland, Virginia
Originally known as Slash Cottage, Ashland is located on the Old Washington Highway U.S. Route One and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, a busy north-south route now owned by CSX Transportation...
. He studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1841 and commenced practice in Greenville, Georgia
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Meriwether County. southwest of Atlanta...
. He moved to Oak Bowery, Alabama
Oak Bowery, Alabama
Oak Bowery is an unincorporated community in southern Chambers County, Alabama, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 431, north of Auburn, Alabama.- History :Oak Bowery was first settled in 1828 by South Carolinians and was originally named Woodlawn...
, in 1846 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the State house of representatives in 1849 and 1851.
Dowdell was elected as a Democrat
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...
to the Thirty-third
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...
, Thirty-fourth
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...
, and Thirty-fifth
35th United States Congress
The 35th 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, 1857 to March 3, 1859, during the first two years of James...
Congresses (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859). 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...
he served as colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Alabama Volunteer Infantry, under General Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
from 1862 until the close of the war.
From 1868 to 1870, he served as the second President of the East Alabama College, now known as Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
.