James Philip Eagle
Encyclopedia
James Philip Eagle was the 16th Governor of the State of Arkansas
.
James Philip Eagle was born in Maury County, Tennessee. His family moved to Arkansas early in his life and he was educated in the public schools.
Eagle was appointed deputy sheriff of Prairie County, Arkansas in 1859, a position he held until the start of the American Civil War
. Eagle enlisted in the Confederate States Army
and rose to the rank of Colonel
. He served with the 5th Arkansas Infantry and the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles. He campaigned with the Army of Tennessee and fought in most of that army's campaigns from the initial battles in Kentucky all the way to the Battle of Nashville
. Eagle was wounded during the Atlanta Campaign
.
At the conclusion of the war Eagle attended Mississippi College
for less than one year but was forced to withdraw due to illness.
From 1873 to 1878 he served as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. In 1875 Eagle served as speaker of the house. From 1880 to 1904 he served as president of the Baptist State Convention.
In 1888 Eagle was elected Governor of Arkansas. In 1890 he was reelected for a second term. The Eagle administration concerned itself with attracting immigration and support for education. Eagle was sympathetic to women's suffrage
and once welcomed Susan B. Anthony
to the state though he did not provide active political support.
Eagle was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention
in 1902 and was reelected to that position twice more. He continued to be active in the Baptist church. Eagle served on the state capitol commission but was fired by Governor Jeff Davis
for allegedly campaigning for an opponent of Davis. Davis was opposed to the construction of the new capitol building.
James P. Eagle died in Little Rock, Arkansas
of heart failure. Eagle is buried at the historic Mount Holly Cemetery
in Little Rock.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
.
James Philip Eagle was born in Maury County, Tennessee. His family moved to Arkansas early in his life and he was educated in the public schools.
Eagle was appointed deputy sheriff of Prairie County, Arkansas in 1859, a position he held until the start of the American 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...
. Eagle enlisted in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and rose to the rank of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. He served with the 5th Arkansas Infantry and the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles. He campaigned with the Army of Tennessee and fought in most of that army's campaigns from the initial battles in Kentucky all the way to the Battle of Nashville
Battle of Nashville
The Battle of Nashville was a two-day battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign that represented the end of large-scale fighting in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15–16, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under...
. Eagle was wounded during the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
.
At the conclusion of the war Eagle attended Mississippi College
Mississippi College
Mississippi College, also known as MC, is a private, Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi. Mississippi College comprises the main campus in Clinton, as well as satellite campuses in Brandon and Madison, Mississippi, and the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson...
for less than one year but was forced to withdraw due to illness.
From 1873 to 1878 he served as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. In 1875 Eagle served as speaker of the house. From 1880 to 1904 he served as president of the Baptist State Convention.
In 1888 Eagle was elected Governor of Arkansas. In 1890 he was reelected for a second term. The Eagle administration concerned itself with attracting immigration and support for education. Eagle was sympathetic to women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and once welcomed Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
to the state though he did not provide active political support.
Eagle was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
in 1902 and was reelected to that position twice more. He continued to be active in the Baptist church. Eagle served on the state capitol commission but was fired by Governor Jeff Davis
Jefferson Davis (Arkansas governor)
Jefferson Davis , commonly known as Jeff Davis, was a Democratic United States Senator from Arkansas and also served as the 20th Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.- Early life :...
for allegedly campaigning for an opponent of Davis. Davis was opposed to the construction of the new capitol building.
James P. Eagle died in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
of heart failure. Eagle is buried at the historic Mount Holly Cemetery
Mount Holly Cemetery
Mount Holly Cemetery is the original cemetery in the Quapaw Quarter area of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and is the resting place for numerous Arkansans of note...
in Little Rock.
See Also
- Southern Baptist Convention
- Southern Baptist Convention Presidents
- List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people
External links
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: James Philip Eagle