James Whitcomb
| James Whitcomb | |
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| 8th Governor of Indiana | |
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In office December 6, 1843 – December 26, 1848 |
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| Lieutenant |
Jesse D. Bright Paris C. Dunning |
| Preceded by | Samuel Bigger |
| Succeeded by | Paris C. Dunning |
| Indiana State Senate | |
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In office December 5, 1830 – December 4, 1836 |
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United States Senator from Indiana |
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In office March 4, 1849 – October 4, 1852 |
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| Preceded by | Edward A. Hannegan |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Cathcart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1795 Windsor County, Vermont |
| Died | October 4, 1852 (aged 56) New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Martha Ann Hurst |
| Relations | Claude Matthews (son-in-law) |
| Children | Martha Renick Whitcomb |
| Alma mater | Transylvania University |
| Religion | Methodist |
James Whitcomb (December 1, 1795 – October 4, 1852) was a Democratic United States Senator and the eighth Governor of Indiana. As governor during the Mexican-American War, he oversaw the formation and deployment of the state's levies. He led the movement to replace the state constitution and played an important role at the convention to institute a law that prevented the government from taking loans in response the current fiscal crisis in Indiana. By skillfully guiding the state through its bankruptcy, Whitcomb is usually credited as being one of the most successful of Indiana's governors. He was elected to the United States Senate after his term as governor but died of kidney disease only two years later.
James Whitcomb was born in Rochester, Vermont on December 1, 1795, the fourth of ten children of John W. and Lydia Parmenter Whitcomb. In 1806 his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where they farmed land. Whitcomb loved to read books, but his father would often discourage him from reading, believing that his son needed to take up manual labor to have a successful future. Instead, young Whitcomb taught school and attended Transylvania University in Kentucky, where he studied law and adopted many southern customs. After returning to the north, he became known for his "fastidious dress and elegant manners", and was often criticized during his life for being a fop. Whitcomb loved music, and was able to play many different instruments, but his favorite was the violin. He became well known for his talented playing and would often dance, sing, and play for friends throughout his life.
After graduating in 1819 he moved to Fayette County, Kentucky, where he was admitted to the bar and, in March 1822, began to practice law. He moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 1824, where he continued to practice law. In Bloomington he quickly became respected in the community. Whitcomb was appointed as prosecuting attorney for Monroe County, Indiana by Governor James B. Ray and served from 1826 to 1829. His position earned him some fame in the area because of several high-profile cases that he successfully prosecuted.
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Wikipedia