George Poindexter
| George Poindexter | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
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In office June 28, 1834 – November 30, 1834 |
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| Preceded by | Hugh Lawson White |
| Succeeded by | John Tyler |
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United States Senator from Mississippi |
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In office October 15, 1830 – March 3, 1835 |
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| Preceded by | Robert H. Adams |
| Succeeded by | Robert J. Walker |
| 2nd Governor of Mississippi | |
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In office January 5, 1820 – January 7, 1822 |
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| Preceded by | David Holmes |
| Succeeded by | Walter Leake |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's at-large congressional district | |
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In office December 10, 1817 – March 3, 1819 |
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| Preceded by | William Lattimore (as Territorial Delegate) |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Rankin |
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi Territory's at-large congressional district | |
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In office March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1813 |
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| Preceded by | William Lattimore |
| Succeeded by | William Lattimore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1779 Louisa County, Virginia |
| Died | September 5, 1853 (aged 73–74) Jackson, Mississippi |
| Political party |
Democratic-Republican Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Lydia Carter Agatha Chinn |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer, Judge |
| Religion | Baptist |
George Poindexter (1779 – September 5, 1853) was an American politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi. Born in Virginia, he moved to the Mississippi Territory in 1802. He served as United States Representative from the newly admitted state, was elected as Governor (1820–1822), and served as a United States Senator.
Poindexter was born in Louisa County, Virginia in the Piedmont area. He was of French Huguenot and English ancestry. Orphaned early in life, Poindexter had an education that was sporadic even for those times. He may have been the uncle of Ohio abolitionist preacher James Preston Poindexter, whose father was Joseph Poindexter, a journalist at the Richmond Enquirer.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1800, commencing practice in Milton, Virginia (today West Virginia).
After moving to the Mississippi Territory in 1802, Poindexter set up his law practice in Natchez. He soon became a leader in the Democratic-Republican Party and was appointed Attorney General of the Territory. Poindexter was elected as a member of the Territorial House of Representatives in 1804.
Poindexter's outspoken opposition to the Federalist Party resulted in a duel challenge from wealthy merchant and planter Abijah Hunt. Poindexter accepted the challenge, killing Hunt in the duel. There was considerable controversy, with unsubstantiated claims made that Poindexter had fired at Hunt prematurely. Despite the controversy, Poindexter entered politics successfully.
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