John T. Stuart

John T. Stuart
John T. Stuart as a major during the Black Hawk War
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 8th district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by	Philip B. Fouke
Succeeded by	Shelby Moore Cullom
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	William L. May
Succeeded by	Orlando B. Ficklin
Personal details
Born	(1807-11-10)November 10, 1807 Lexington, Kentucky
Died	November 23, 1885(1885-11-23) (aged 78) Springfield, Illinois
Political party	Democratic

John Todd Stuart (November 10, 1807 – November 23, 1885) was a lawyer and a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born near Lexington, Kentucky, Stuart graduated from Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, in 1826. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1828, and commenced practice in Springfield, Illinois. He was a major in the Black Hawk War in 1832, where he first met Abraham Lincoln, who was in the same battalion as Stuart.

He served as member of the Illinois House of Representatives between 1832 and 1836. Stuart encouraged Lincoln to study law and the two subsequently became law partners, between 1837 and 1841. If not for Stuart's influence, it is conceivable that Lincoln might never have been interested in the law - and thus, might not ever have become president.

Stuart was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1836 to the Twenty-fifth Congress. He was, however, elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839 - March 3, 1843), winning over Stephen A. Douglas in 1838. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1842.

Stuart established a law partnership with Benjamin S. Edwards in 1843, a partnership that would last for forty years. Stuart served as member of the Illinois Senate between 1848 and 1852. He was the unsuccessful Constitutional Union candidate for Governor of Illinois in 1860.