Robert H. Adams
Encyclopedia
Robert Huntington Adams (1792 July 2, 1830) was a Mississippi
lawyer
and politician
who, in the final months of his life, briefly served as United States senator from Mississippi.
The year of Adams' birth in Rockbridge County, Virginia
is known to history but, as was common in the 18th century, the day and month went unrecorded. As a young boy he became a cooper
's apprentice, but by the age of 13 or 14, in 1806, had attained sufficient learning to graduate from Washington College (now Washington and Lee University
) at Lexington, Virginia
. He subsequently studied law, was admitted to the bar
, and started a legal practice in Knoxville, Tennessee
.
In 1819 Adams moved to Natchez, Mississippi
and by 1828 was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
. In the 19th century, state legislatures elected U.S. senators, thus a little more than a year after becoming a state representative, when a vacancy opened due to the death of U.S. senator Thomas B. Reed
, Adams, a Jacksonian, advanced to the office and was sworn in on January 6, 1830.
Less than six months later, Robert Huntington Adams died in Natchez of an unknown cause at the age of 37 or 38. He was interred in Natchez City Cemetery.
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...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who, in the final months of his life, briefly served as United States senator from Mississippi.
The year of Adams' birth in Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
is known to history but, as was common in the 18th century, the day and month went unrecorded. As a young boy he became a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
's apprentice, but by the age of 13 or 14, in 1806, had attained sufficient learning to graduate from Washington College (now Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
) at Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
. He subsequently studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, and started a legal practice in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
.
In 1819 Adams moved to 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...
and by 1828 was a member of the Mississippi 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 the 19th century, state legislatures elected U.S. senators, thus a little more than a year after becoming a state representative, when a vacancy opened due to the death of U.S. senator Thomas B. Reed
Thomas Buck Reed
Thomas Buck Reed was a United States Senator from Mississippi.Born near Lexington, Kentucky, he attended the public schools and the College of New Jersey He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Lexington in 1808; in 1809 he moved to Natchez, Mississippi and was city...
, Adams, a Jacksonian, advanced to the office and was sworn in on January 6, 1830.
Less than six months later, Robert Huntington Adams died in Natchez of an unknown cause at the age of 37 or 38. He was interred in Natchez City Cemetery.