James Semple
| James Semple | |
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United States Senator from Illinois |
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In office August 16, 1843 – March 3, 1847 |
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| Preceded by | Samuel McRoberts |
| Succeeded by | Stephen A. Douglas |
| Member of Illinois House of Representatives | |
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In office 1828-1833 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 5, 1798 Green County, Kentucky |
| Died | December 20, 1866 (aged 68) Elsah, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Attorney, soldier, businessman |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Kentucky Militia United States Army |
| Battles/wars | Black Hawk War |
James Semple (January 5, 1798 – December 20, 1866) was a United States Senator from Illinois.
Born in Green County, Kentucky, he had some private education as well as public schooling before enlisting in the Army in 1814 and being an ensign in the Kentucky Militia in 1816. He moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1818 and to Chariton, Missouri, in 1819. During the Black Hawk War of 1832, he served as an adjutant.
Semple served in the Illinois House of Representatives and was the speaker of the house from 1834 to 1838. Semple unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 1836. President Martin Van Buren appointed him as Chargé d'Affaires to New Granada on October 14, 1837, and he served in that capacity until March 4, 1842.
Semple was the judge of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1842 to 1843. He was appointed and subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel McRoberts and served from August 16, 1843, to March 3, 1847. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1846.
Semple ended up in Jersey County, Illinois, where in 1853 he founded the town of Elsah, Illinois. His son Eugene Semple was a politician in the territory and state of Washington.
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