John C. Edwards | |
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9th Governor of Missouri | |
In office November 20, 1844 – November 20, 1848 |
|
Lieutenant | Thomas Lawson Price |
Preceded by | Meredith M. Marmaduke |
Succeeded by | Austin A. King |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's at-large district | |
In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 |
|
Preceded by | John Jameson |
Succeeded by | John Jameson |
Secretary of State of Missouri | |
In office 1830 |
|
Preceded by | Henry Shurlds |
Succeeded by | Peter Garland Glover |
Secretary of State of Missouri | |
In office 1830–1835 |
|
Preceded by | Priestly Haggins McBride |
Succeeded by | Peter Garland Glover |
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives | |
In office 1836 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Frankfort, Kentucky |
June 24, 1804
Died | October 14, 1888 |
(aged 84)
Resting place | Stockton Rural cemetery |
Political party | Democratic Party |
Spouse(s) | Emma Jeanne Catherine Richard |
Children | Eleven Emma Edwards Green |
Alma mater | Black's College |
Profession | Attorney |
John Cummins Edwards (June 24, 1804 – October 14, 1888) was a Democratic politician from the state of Missouri. He served as a member of the 27th United States Congress as well as Missouri's ninth Governor.
John Cummins Edwards was born on June 24, 1804 or 1806 (Conflicting sources list each) in Frankfort, Kentucky to parents John and Sarah (Cummins) Edwards. He was raised in the Murfreesboro, Tennessee area and completed preparatory education at Black's College in Kentucky. He studied Law at Dr Henderson's Classic School in Rutherford County, Tennessee and further studied under the Rutherford County states attorney before being admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1825.
After working as an attorney in his native Murfreesboro for three years, John Edwards moved to Missouri in 1828, establishing a law practice in Jefferson City and becoming involved in local politics. In 1830 Missouri Governor John G. Miller appointed Edwards as Secretary of State, a position he would hold until 1835, and then again briefly in 1837. In a move that would seem unusual by today's standards, Edwards also concurrently held the post of district judge of Cole County, Missouri from 1832 to 1837. Politically John Edwards was a Jacksonian democrat and a staunch ally of Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton. In 1836 Edwards was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives but would serve only briefly as in 1837 he was appointed a judge to the Missouri Supreme Court, a position he would hold until 1839.