George Poindexter
Encyclopedia
George Poindexter was an American
politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi
.
and was of Huguenot
ancestry. He was orphaned early in life and had a sporadic education growing up. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1800, commencing practice in Milton, Virginia
(today West Virginia
).
in 1802, Poindexter continued to practice law in Natchez, Mississippi
. He soon became a leader there in the Democratic-Republican Party and was appointed Attorney General of the Territory
. When former U.S. Vice President
Aaron Burr
was arrested in 1807 for the alleged Burr conspiracy
, Poindexter conducted the prosecution until Burr's escape from custody. Poindexter's outspoken opposition to the Federalist Party resulted in a duel
challenge from merchant Abijah Hunt. Poindexter accepted the challenge and killed Hunt resulting in controversy and unsubstantiated claims that accused Poindexter of firing prematurely. Poindexter was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives
in 1805 and was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives
from the Territory in the 10th
, 11th
and 12th Congresses
from 1807 to 1813.
during the War of 1812
. Poindexter was chairman of the committee that was appointed to draft a constitution for the new state of Mississippi. After admission in 1817, he was elected to be the state's first representative in Congress. He served in the 15th Congress
from 1817 to 1819, when he chaired the Committee on Public Lands. Poindexter was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1820 to the 17th Congress
and in 1822 to the 18th Congress
.
in 1830 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert H. Adams
and served from 1830 to 1835. He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims
in 22nd Congress
from 1831 to 1833, of the Committee on Public Lands
in the 23rd Congress
from 1833 to 1835 and was President pro tempore of the Senate
from June to November 1834. Poindexter's tenure as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims had been considered moderately controversial at the time, as Poindexter had espoused some views that could be considered Socialist regarding government repossession of land. Poindexter was thought to have made these claims to support President Andrew Jackson
's fight with the Second Bank of the United States
. Poindexter had been a supporter of President Jackson, and had defended him against calls for censure
stemming from the Arbuthnot and Ambrister incident, but had slowly become less happy with the President's policies. In 1834 Poindexter had his home in Washington, D.C.
painted by Richard Lawrence. Lawrence, a deranged man, thought he was the ruler of England and the United States and that Jackson was a usurper. In January 1835 Lawrence shot at Jackson with two pistols while the President was attending a memorial service for a Congressman at the House of Representatives. It was the first attempt to assassinate a President. Jackson accused various political enemies as being behind Lawrence. Among them was Poindexter, who denied any connection except for the painting. But the accusations followed Poindexter back to Mississippi. He was unsuccessful for a second term.
and continued practicing law in Lexington, Kentucky
. He later moved back to Jackson, Mississippi
and continued his law practice until his death there on September 5, 1853. He was interred in Greenwood Cemetery
in Jackson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Background
Poindexter was born in Louisa County, VirginiaLouisa County, Virginia
Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
and was of Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
ancestry. He was orphaned early in life and had a sporadic education growing up. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1800, commencing practice in Milton, Virginia
Milton, West Virginia
Milton is a town in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,206 at the 2000 census.Milton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649...
(today West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
).
Mississippi
After moving to the Mississippi TerritoryMississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
in 1802, Poindexter continued to practice law in Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
. He soon became a leader there in the Democratic-Republican Party and was appointed Attorney General of the Territory
Attorneys-General of Mississippi
The Attorney-General of Mississippi is the chief legal officer of the state and serves as the State's lawyer. Only the Attorney-General can bring or defend a lawsuit on behalf of the State....
. When former U.S. Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
was arrested in 1807 for the alleged Burr conspiracy
Burr conspiracy
The Burr conspiracy in the beginning of the 19th century was a suspected treasonous cabal of planters, politicians, and army officers led by former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. According to the accusations against him, Burr’s goal was to create an independent nation in the center of North...
, Poindexter conducted the prosecution until Burr's escape from custody. Poindexter's outspoken opposition to the Federalist Party resulted in a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
challenge from merchant Abijah Hunt. Poindexter accepted the challenge and killed Hunt resulting in controversy and unsubstantiated claims that accused Poindexter of firing prematurely. Poindexter was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
in 1805 and was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the Territory in the 10th
10th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :- Senate :*President: George Clinton *President pro tempore: Samuel Smith , elected April 16, 1808** Stephen R. Bradley , elected December 28, 1808** John Milledge , elected January 30, 1809...
, 11th
11th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: George Clinton * President pro tempore:** John Milledge ** Andrew Gregg , elected June 26, 1809** John Gaillard , elected February 28, 1810...
and 12th Congresses
12th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :During this congress, one new House seat was added for the new state of Louisiana.- Senate :*President: George Clinton *President pro tempore: William H. Crawford -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Henry Clay...
from 1807 to 1813.
Judgeship and the House of Representatives
Poindexter was a judge for the Mississippi Territory from 1813 to 1817. He served as a volunteer aide at the decisive Battle of New OrleansBattle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Poindexter was chairman of the committee that was appointed to draft a constitution for the new state of Mississippi. After admission in 1817, he was elected to be the state's first representative in Congress. He served in the 15th Congress
15th United States Congress
-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Daniel D. Tompkins * President pro tempore:** John Gaillard , elected March 4, 1817** James Barbour , elected February 15, 1819- House of Representatives :*Speaker: Henry Clay -Members:...
from 1817 to 1819, when he chaired the Committee on Public Lands. Poindexter was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1820 to the 17th Congress
17th United States Congress
The Seventeenth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1821 to March 3, 1823, during the fifth and sixth...
and in 1822 to the 18th Congress
18th United States Congress
The Eighteenth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1823 to March 3, 1825, during the seventh and eighth...
.
Governor of Mississippi
He was elected Governor of Mississippi in 1819, serving from 1820 to 1822.United States Senate
Poindexter was appointed to the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1830 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert H. Adams
Robert H. Adams
Robert Huntington Adams was a Mississippi lawyer and politician who, in the final months of his life, briefly served as United States senator from Mississippi....
and served from 1830 to 1835. He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims
United States Senate Committee on Claims
The United States Senate Committee on Claims was among the first standing committees established in the Senate. It dealt generally with issues related to private bills and petitions...
in 22nd Congress
22nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President:** John C. Calhoun , resigned December 28, 1832, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore:** Samuel Smith , first elected December 5, 1831** Littleton W...
from 1831 to 1833, of the Committee on Public Lands
United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has jurisdiction over matters related to energy and nuclear waste policy, territorial policy, native Hawaiian matters, and public lands....
in the 23rd Congress
23rd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:For the beginning of this congress, the size of the House was increased from 213 seats to 240 seats, following the 1830 United States Census .- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Martin Van Buren...
from 1833 to 1835 and was President pro tempore of the Senate
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...
from June to November 1834. Poindexter's tenure as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims had been considered moderately controversial at the time, as Poindexter had espoused some views that could be considered Socialist regarding government repossession of land. Poindexter was thought to have made these claims to support President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
's fight with the Second Bank of the United States
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
. Poindexter had been a supporter of President Jackson, and had defended him against calls for censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
stemming from the Arbuthnot and Ambrister incident, but had slowly become less happy with the President's policies. In 1834 Poindexter had his home in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
painted by Richard Lawrence. Lawrence, a deranged man, thought he was the ruler of England and the United States and that Jackson was a usurper. In January 1835 Lawrence shot at Jackson with two pistols while the President was attending a memorial service for a Congressman at the House of Representatives. It was the first attempt to assassinate a President. Jackson accused various political enemies as being behind Lawrence. Among them was Poindexter, who denied any connection except for the painting. But the accusations followed Poindexter back to Mississippi. He was unsuccessful for a second term.
Retirement from politics
In 1835, Poindexter moved to KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and continued practicing law in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. He later moved back to Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
and continued his law practice until his death there on September 5, 1853. He was interred in Greenwood Cemetery
Greenwood Cemetery, Mississippi
Greenwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. Still in use, it was established by a federal land grant on November 21, 1821. It was originally known simply as "The Graveyard" and later as "City Cemetery" before the present name was adopted in 1899...
in Jackson.
External links
- George Poindexter at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...