James La Fayette Cottrell (August 25, 1808 – September 7, 1885) was 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...

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Born near King William, Virginia

King William, Virginia

King William is a census-designated place in and the county seat of King William County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 252. Located in King William is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States, built in 1725...

, Cottrell completed preparatory studies.
He studied law.
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 1830 and commenced practice in Hayneville, Alabama

Hayneville, Alabama

Hayneville is a town in Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,177. The city is the county seat of Lowndes County. It is also part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

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He served as member of the Alabama House of Representatives

Alabama House of Representatives

The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...

 in 1834, 1836, and 1837.
He served in the State senate 1838-1841, and was president of that body in 1840.

Cottrell 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 Twenty-ninth Congress

29th United States Congress

-House of Representatives:During this congress, two House seats were added for each of the new states of Texas and Iowa.-Leadership:-Senate:* President: George M. Dallas * President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum...

 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William L. Yancey and served from December 7, 1846, to March 3, 1847.
He moved to Florida in 1854.
He served in the Florida Senate

Florida Senate

The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....

 1865-1885.
He was appointed collector of customs at Cedar Keys, Florida, and served until his death in that city September 7, 1885.
He was interred in Old Town Cemetery, Old Town, Florida

Old Town, Florida

Old Town is an unincorporated community in Dixie County, Florida, United States. It is located at the intersection of US 19/US 98 and State Road 349.-Geography:...

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