Powhatan Ellis
Encyclopedia
Powhatan Ellis was a United States Senator from Mississippi
and a United States federal judge
.
Born at "Red Hill" in Amherst County, Virginia
, he graduated from Washington Academy (now Washington and Lee University
) in 1809, attended Dickinson College
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
in 1809 and 1810, receiving an A.B.
, and studied law at William and Mary College in 1813 and 1814. He was a Lieutenant in the Prevost Guards of Virginia in 1814. He was admitted to the bar
and commenced practice in Lynchburg, Virginia
; he moved to Natchez, Mississippi
in 1816, and to Winchester, Mississippi later that year, continuing the practice of law in both places.
Ellis was a judge of the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1823 to 1825, and was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of David Holmes
, and served from September 28, 1825, to January 28, 1826, when a successor was elected and qualified; he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to fill the vacancy. He was elected to the Senate and served from March 4, 1827, to July 16, 1832, when he resigned to accept a judicial position.
On July 13, 1832, President Andrew Jackson
nominated Ellis to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Mississippi vacated by Peter Randolph
. Ellis was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 14, 1832, and received his commission the same day. Ellis resigned on January 5, 1836, and was appointed by President Andrew Jackson
as Chargé d'affaires
of the United States to Mexico. He served in that capacity from January to December 1836, when he closed the legation. He was appointed by President Martin Van Buren
as United States Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico, holding that office from 1839 to 1842. He then engaged in the private practice of law in Natchez, Mississippi
until at some point he moved to Richmond, Virginia
. He continued in private practice there until his death in 1863; interment was at Shockoe Hill Cemetery
. The city of Ellisville, Mississippi
is named in his memory.
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...
and a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born at "Red Hill" in Amherst County, Virginia
Amherst County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,894 people, 11,941 households, and 8,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,958 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
, he graduated from Washington Academy (now Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
) in 1809, attended Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
in 1809 and 1810, receiving an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, and studied law at William and Mary College in 1813 and 1814. He was a Lieutenant in the Prevost Guards of Virginia in 1814. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and commenced practice in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
; he moved to Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
in 1816, and to Winchester, Mississippi later that year, continuing the practice of law in both places.
Ellis was a judge of the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1823 to 1825, and was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of David Holmes
David Holmes (politician)
David Holmes was the last governor of the Mississippi Territory and the first governor of the State of Mississippi.-Career:...
, and served from September 28, 1825, to January 28, 1826, when a successor was elected and qualified; he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to fill the vacancy. He was elected to the Senate and served from March 4, 1827, to July 16, 1832, when he resigned to accept a judicial position.
On July 13, 1832, President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
nominated Ellis to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Mississippi vacated by Peter Randolph
Peter Randolph
Peter Randolph was a United States federal judge.Born in Nottoway County, Virginia, Randolph attended the College of William and Mary, and read law to enter the bar in 1806...
. Ellis was confirmed by 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...
on July 14, 1832, and received his commission the same day. Ellis resigned on January 5, 1836, and was appointed by President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
as Chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
of the United States to Mexico. He served in that capacity from January to December 1836, when he closed the legation. He was appointed by President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
as United States Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico, holding that office from 1839 to 1842. He then engaged in the private practice of law in Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
until at some point he moved to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. He continued in private practice there until his death in 1863; interment was at Shockoe Hill Cemetery
Shockoe Hill Cemetery
The Shockoe Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery located on Shockoe Hill in Richmond, Virginia.-History:Established in 1820, with the initial burial in 1822, Shockoe Hill Cemetery was the first city-owned municipal burial ground in Richmond. The cemetery expanded in 1833, 1850, and 1870, but now is...
. The city of Ellisville, Mississippi
Ellisville, Mississippi
Ellisville is a city in Jones County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,465 at the time of the 2000 census.-History:The city is named for Powhatan Ellis, a former U.S. Senator for Mississippi and descendant of Chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas...
is named in his memory.