James French Patton
Encyclopedia
James French Patton was born September 19, 1843 to the Hon. John M. Patton and Peggy French Williams of Richmond, Virginia
. Patton was a lieutenant in the Confederate
Army, member of the Virginia
bar, and appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
in 1881.
Patton was the great-grandson of Gen. Hugh Mercer
who fought at the Battle of Princeton
in 1776 and an ancestor to General George S. Patton
. At age 14, he was enrolled in Andover Academy but halted his education at age 18 to join the Confederate Army. In 1869, Patton married the daughter of U.S. Senator Allen T. Caperton
. He later joined a law partnership with Caperton and relocated to Union
in Monroe County, West Virginia
. In 1872, Patton was elected as a Democrat
for prosecuting attorney of Monroe County and served four years.
On June 1, 1881, Patton was appointed by Governor Jacob B. Jackson
to a vacated seat on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia caused by the resignation of Justice Charles P.T. Moore.
Patton died suddenly on March 30, 1882 in Wheeling, West Virginia
at the age of 37. He was still a justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals at the time of his death.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Patton was a lieutenant in the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Army, member of the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
bar, and appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
in 1881.
Patton was the great-grandson of Gen. Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer was a soldier and physician. He initially served with British forces during the Seven Years War but later became a brigadier general in the Continental Army and a close friend to George Washington...
who fought at the Battle of Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
in 1776 and an ancestor to General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
. At age 14, he was enrolled in Andover Academy but halted his education at age 18 to join the Confederate Army. In 1869, Patton married the daughter of U.S. Senator Allen T. Caperton
Allen T. Caperton
Allen Taylor Caperton was an American politician who was a United States Senator serving as a Democrat, as well as previous positions.-Early life:...
. He later joined a law partnership with Caperton and relocated to Union
Union, West Virginia
Union is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 548 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-History:...
in Monroe County, West Virginia
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
. In 1872, Patton was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for prosecuting attorney of Monroe County and served four years.
On June 1, 1881, Patton was appointed by Governor Jacob B. Jackson
Jacob B. Jackson
Jacob Beeson Jackson was the sixth Governor of West Virginia from 1881 to 1885. In 1855, he married Maria Willard....
to a vacated seat on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia caused by the resignation of Justice Charles P.T. Moore.
Patton died suddenly on March 30, 1882 in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
at the age of 37. He was still a justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals at the time of his death.