Joel Holleman
Encyclopedia
Joel Holleman was an American politician and lawyer
from Virginia
. A Democrat
, he served in the United States House of Representatives
and as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
to John Holleman and Nancy Thomas Holleman. He graduated from the University of North Carolina
and attended law school there. He was a teacher for some time before his admission to the bar. He eventually set up a law practice at Burwell Bay, Virginia, in Isle of Wight County. "[A]s a criminal lawyer, [he] had few equals and no superiors in lower Virginia."
On November 22, 1828, Holleman married Caroline Carroll of Isle of Wight County. She died in 1842. On April 3, 1844, a few months before his death, he married his erstwhile sister-in-law, Emily W. Carroll.
in 1832. He moved to the Senate of Virginia
in 1836.
Holleman was elected to the Twenty-sixth
Congress, taking office in 1839. At the time of his election, he made a public statement that he would resign his seat if the Whigs
won his district in the 1840 presidential election. After William Henry Harrison
did so, Holleman resigned.
He was reelected to the House of Delegates in 1841 and became Speaker the following year.
He died in Smithfield, Virginia
, August 5, 1844. He was interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. 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...
, he served in the United States House of Representatives
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...
and as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Personal life
Holleman was born in Isle of Wight County, VirginiaIsle of Wight County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 35,270 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
to John Holleman and Nancy Thomas Holleman. He graduated from the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
and attended law school there. He was a teacher for some time before his admission to the bar. He eventually set up a law practice at Burwell Bay, Virginia, in Isle of Wight County. "[A]s a criminal lawyer, [he] had few equals and no superiors in lower Virginia."
On November 22, 1828, Holleman married Caroline Carroll of Isle of Wight County. She died in 1842. On April 3, 1844, a few months before his death, he married his erstwhile sister-in-law, Emily W. Carroll.
Political career
Holleman was first elected to the Virginia House of DelegatesVirginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
in 1832. He moved to the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
in 1836.
Holleman was elected to the Twenty-sixth
26th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :*President: Richard M. Johnson *President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :*Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress, taking office in 1839. At the time of his election, he made a public statement that he would resign his seat if the Whigs
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...
won his district in the 1840 presidential election. After William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
did so, Holleman resigned.
He was reelected to the House of Delegates in 1841 and became Speaker the following year.
He died in Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads subregion of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. The population was 8,089 at the 2010 census....
, August 5, 1844. He was interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery.