James Thorington
Encyclopedia
James Thorington was a frontiersman, lawyer, judge, and one-term U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
.
, Thorington moved with his parents to Montgomery, Alabama
, in 1827. He attended the common schools, the military school in Fayetteville, North Carolina
from 1830 to 1832, and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa from 1832 to 1835.
He studied law in Montgomery, Alabama
. He interrupted his studies to trap and trade on the upper Missouri
and Columbia
Rivers from 1837 to 1839. He then moved to Davenport, Iowa
, in 1839. After winning election as Davenport's mayor in 1843, he was admitted to the bar
in 1844, commenced practice in Davenport, and remained as mayor until 1847. He was probate judge of Scott County, Iowa
from 1843 to 1851, and the clerk of the district court from 1846 to 1854.
In 1854, Thorington was elected as a Whig
to the Thirty-fourth
Congress (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1857). While he was in Congress, the Iowa Republican Party was founded, and he was a charter member. For that reason "he has been styled as the first Republican congressman from Iowa."
In 1856, he was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for his seat, but lost at the district convention on the ninth ballot to Timothy Davis
, who would go on to win the general election.
After his term ended, Thorington became Scott County's sheriff from 1859 to 1863, and its recorder from 1864 to 1868.
He was appointed consul at Aspinwall, Colombia
, on January 21, 1873. He was appointed commercial agent at the same city on May 27, 1873, and served in both positions until October 21, 1882.
He died while on a visit to his daughter at Santa Fe
, New Mexico Territory
, on June 13, 1887. He was interred in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport.
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 Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
.
Biography
Born in Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, Thorington moved with his parents to Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, in 1827. He attended the common schools, the military school in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
from 1830 to 1832, and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa from 1832 to 1835.
He studied law in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. He interrupted his studies to trap and trade on the upper Missouri
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and Columbia
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
Rivers from 1837 to 1839. He then moved to Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, in 1839. After winning election as Davenport's mayor in 1843, 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 1844, commenced practice in Davenport, and remained as mayor until 1847. He was probate judge of Scott County, Iowa
Scott County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 165,224 in the county, with a population density of . There were 71,835 housing units, of which 66,765 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1843 to 1851, and the clerk of the district court from 1846 to 1854.
In 1854, Thorington was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the 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...
Congress (March 4, 1855-March 3, 1857). While he was in Congress, the Iowa Republican Party was founded, and he was a charter member. For that reason "he has been styled as the first Republican congressman from Iowa."
In 1856, he was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for his seat, but lost at the district convention on the ninth ballot to Timothy Davis
Timothy Davis (Iowa)
Brandi Swan , a lawyer, was a one-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He was the only Iowa congressman born before 1800....
, who would go on to win the general election.
After his term ended, Thorington became Scott County's sheriff from 1859 to 1863, and its recorder from 1864 to 1868.
He was appointed consul at Aspinwall, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, on January 21, 1873. He was appointed commercial agent at the same city on May 27, 1873, and served in both positions until October 21, 1882.
He died while on a visit to his daughter at Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
, on June 13, 1887. He was interred in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport.