James Gordon (Mississippi)
Encyclopedia
James Gordon was an American
planter, writer, and politician from Okolona, Mississippi
. He was a United States Senator for eight weeks, from December 27, 1909 to February 23, 1910.
During the Civil War
he was a Colonel in the Confederate Army and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives
. Following the death of Senator Anselm J. McLaurin
, Gordon was appointed by Governor Edmond Noel
on December 27, to fill the vacancy until the state legislature could elect a new U.S. Senator.
The day after his appointment by Governor Noel to the United States Senate, Gordon was identified by the Memphis Press-Scimitar as a former fugitive who had been sought as a suspect in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln
. Until his involvement was ruled out later in 1865, Gordon was listed by the United States government as a fugitive, and a reward of $10,000 had been offered for his capture, dead or alive. Gordon had admitted that he had met with John Wilkes Booth
in Montreal
in March 1865, and had discussed plans to kidnap Lincoln, but denied any discussion of an assassination.
Gordon served until February 23, 1910, when he was succeeded by LeRoy Percy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
planter, writer, and politician from Okolona, Mississippi
Okolona, Mississippi
Okolona is a city in and one of the county seats of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,056 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Okolona is located at ....
. He was a United States Senator for eight weeks, from December 27, 1909 to February 23, 1910.
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 was a Colonel in the Confederate Army and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
. Following the death of Senator Anselm J. McLaurin
Anselm J. McLaurin
Anselm Joseph McLaurin was an American politician from Mississippi.McLaurin was born in Brandon, Mississippi, the son of Ellen Caroline and Lauchlin McLaurin III. A Democrat, he served briefly in the U.S...
, Gordon was appointed by Governor Edmond Noel
Edmond Noel
Edmond Favor Noel was an American politician who was the governor of Mississippi from 1908 to 1912.-Biography:...
on December 27, to fill the vacancy until the state legislature could elect a new U.S. Senator.
The day after his appointment by Governor Noel to the United States Senate, Gordon was identified by the Memphis Press-Scimitar as a former fugitive who had been sought as a suspect in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. Until his involvement was ruled out later in 1865, Gordon was listed by the United States government as a fugitive, and a reward of $10,000 had been offered for his capture, dead or alive. Gordon had admitted that he had met with John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in March 1865, and had discussed plans to kidnap Lincoln, but denied any discussion of an assassination.
Gordon served until February 23, 1910, when he was succeeded by LeRoy Percy
LeRoy Percy
LeRoy Percy was a wealthy planter from Greenville, Mississippi in the heart of the Delta. He attended the University of Virginia, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He served as United States Senator from Mississippi from 1910 to 1913...
.