SENATE, 9th General Assembly, 1811-13; representing counties of Montgomery, Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Robertson, and Stewart. Born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1779; names of parents not determined. Attended “common schools”. Immigrated to US and settled at Clarksville, Montgomery County. Studied law and admitted to bar, 1804. Married twice; first wife was Jane B.; date of marriage not found, but she died Sep 25, 1807; second marriage, in 1829, was to Mrs. Lucinda Elder, widow of James Elder; no children by either marriage indicated. Practiced law at Clarksville; an incorporator of Rural Academy, 1806; a trustee of Mount Pleasant Academy, 1811; an incorporator of Clarksville Academy, 1820; a trustee of the Female Academy, 1836; one of incorporators of Red River Bridge Co., 1819. Elected as a Democrat to US House of Representatives, 14th Congress, Mar 4, 1815 to Mar 3, 1817; elected again to 18th Congress, Mar 4, 1823 to Mar 3, 1825. Died at Clarksville, June 10, 1851; buried in City Cemetery.
 

Sources: Biographical Directory of American Congress; Clarksville Jeffersonian, Sep 5, 1846; Hale and Merritt, Tennessee and Tennesseans, pp 733, 814; Beach, Along the Warioto, 75, 95, 108, 138, 153, 158.

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist