James Z. George
Encyclopedia
James Zachariah George was an American
military officer, lawyer, writer, and politician. He was known as Mississippi
's "Great Commoner."
James Z. George was born in Monroe County
, Georgia
, but moved to Mississippi when his widowed mother remarried. He served as a private in the Mexican-American War under Colonel Jefferson Davis
. On his return, George studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1854 he became a reporter of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
and, over the next 20 years, George prepared a 10-volume digest of its cases.
As a member of the Mississippi Secession Convention, George signed the Ordinance of Secession. A Confederate
colonel
of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry during the Civil War
, he was captured twice and spent two years in a prisoner of war camp, where he conducted a law course for his fellow captives.
After the war, he returned to Mississippi and resumed the practice of law. In 1879 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Mississippi and immediately was chosen chief justice by his colleagues.
From 1881 until his death, George represented Mississippi in the United States Senate
, where he was recognized for his skills in debate, helped frame the future Sherman Anti-Trust Act, introduced the bill for agricultural college experiment stations, and encouraged the establishment of the Department of Agriculture
. He also served as a member of the Mississippi Constitutional Convention of 1890 and successfully defended the constitution before the Senate and the Supreme Court.
George died in Mississippi City, Mississippi
, where he had gone for health treatment. He is buried, along with his wife, Elizabeth Brooks (Young) George, in Evergreen Cemetery in North Carrollton, Mississippi
. George's wife Elizabeth was the granddaughter of Col. William Martin Jr. of Tennessee, and the great-granddaughter of General Joseph Martin
, an early Virginia explorer and Revolutionary War
commander.
In 1931, the state of Mississippi donated a bronze statue of George to the United States Capitol's
National Statuary Hall Collection
.
The J. Z. George High School in North Carrollton, Mississippi
is named in his honor, which is less than two miles from his burial place. In addition, George County, Mississippi
, is also named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military officer, lawyer, writer, and politician. He was known as Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
's "Great Commoner."
James Z. George was born in Monroe County
Monroe County, Georgia
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on May 15, 1821. As of 2000, the population was 21,757. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 25,145...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, but moved to Mississippi when his widowed mother remarried. He served as a private in the Mexican-American War under Colonel Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
. On his return, George studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1854 he became a reporter of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
Supreme Court of Mississippi
The Supreme Court of Mississippi is the highest court in the state of Mississippi. It was created in the first constitution of the state following its admission as a State of the Union in 1817. Initially it was known as the "High Court of Errors and Appeals." The Court is an appellate court, as...
and, over the next 20 years, George prepared a 10-volume digest of its cases.
As a member of the Mississippi Secession Convention, George signed the Ordinance of Secession. A Confederate
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...
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 5th Mississippi Cavalry 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 captured twice and spent two years in a prisoner of war camp, where he conducted a law course for his fellow captives.
After the war, he returned to Mississippi and resumed the practice of law. In 1879 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Mississippi and immediately was chosen chief justice by his colleagues.
From 1881 until his death, George represented Mississippi in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, where he was recognized for his skills in debate, helped frame the future Sherman Anti-Trust Act, introduced the bill for agricultural college experiment stations, and encouraged the establishment of the Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
. He also served as a member of the Mississippi Constitutional Convention of 1890 and successfully defended the constitution before the Senate and the Supreme Court.
George died in Mississippi City, Mississippi
Mississippi City, Mississippi
Mississippi City, Mississippi, was an unincorporated community in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It was part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where he had gone for health treatment. He is buried, along with his wife, Elizabeth Brooks (Young) George, in Evergreen Cemetery in North Carrollton, Mississippi
North Carrollton, Mississippi
North Carrollton is a town in Carroll County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 499 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area-Geography:North Carrollton is located at ....
. George's wife Elizabeth was the granddaughter of Col. William Martin Jr. of Tennessee, and the great-granddaughter of General Joseph Martin
Joseph Martin (general)
Joseph Martin was a brigadier general in the Virginia militia during the American Revolutionary War, in which Martin's frontier diplomacy with the Cherokee people is credited with averting Indian attacks on the Scotch-Irish settlers who helped win the battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens...
, an early Virginia explorer and Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
commander.
In 1931, the state of Mississippi donated a bronze statue of George to the United States Capitol's
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
National Statuary Hall Collection
National Statuary Hall Collection
The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol comprises statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history...
.
The J. Z. George High School in North Carrollton, Mississippi
North Carrollton, Mississippi
North Carrollton is a town in Carroll County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 499 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area-Geography:North Carrollton is located at ....
is named in his honor, which is less than two miles from his burial place. In addition, George County, Mississippi
George County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,144 people, 6,742 households, and 5,305 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile . There were 7,513 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, is also named in his honor.