James Semple

James Semple (January 5, 1798 – December 20, 1866) was an American attorney and politician. He was Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Attorney General of Illinois, an associate justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Chargé d'Affaires to New Granada, and United States Senator from Illinois.

Semple was born in Green County, Kentucky, and was raised and educated in Clinton County. He served in the Kentucky militia during the War of 1812 and then moved to Missouri, where he was active in the militia and owned and operated several businesses. He later studied law in Missouri and Kentucky, attained admission to the bar, and moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, to start a practice. He became active in politics as a Democrat, but was opposed to slavery, and he served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1828 to 1832. He continued his militia service after moving to Illinois, and took part in the Black Hawk War. After service as Illinois Attorney General from 1832 to 1834, Semple returned to the Illinois House, where he served as Speaker from 1834 to 1837.

From 1838 to 1842, Semple served as US Chargé d'Affaires in New Granada. Upon returning to Illinois, he was appointed an associate justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, but he served only a few months because later that year he was selected to fill a vacancy in the US Senate, where he served from 1843 to 1847.

After leaving politics, Semple practiced law, was active in several business ventures, and attempted to market an invention called the prairie car, a forerunner of the modern automobile. He died in Elsah, Illinois, a town he founded, and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Early life

James Semple was born in Green County, Kentucky, on January 5, 1798, the son of John Walker Semple and Lucy (Robertson) Semple.Template:Sfn Semple's grandfather Robert Semple served in the Virginia legislature, and his father served in the legislature of Kentucky.Template:Sfn James Semple was raised on his father's Clinton County homestead, which John Sample named "76".Template:Sfn He received his early education from his mother, a talented woman educated enough to argue cases in court when no lawyers were available, and was tutored by his uncle Isaac Robertson, who was a graduate of Princeton College.Template:Sfn

Start of career

In 1814, the sixteen-year-old Semple volunteered for the Kentucky Militia during the War of 1812.Template:Sfn He served until the end war, and in 1817 received a commission as an ensign in Kentucky's 81st Militia Regiment.Template:Sfn

In 1818, Semple moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, but he remained for only nine months before returning to Kentucky. In 1819, he moved to Chariton, Missouri, where he operated a tannery and became active in other business ventures.Template:Sfn In addition, he joined the Missouri Militia's 21st Infantry Regiment, which he later commanded with the rank of colonel. Soon after arriving in Chariton, Semple was elected a state Loan Commissioner.Template:Sfn In response to the Panic of 1819, Missouri's government authorized the issuing of paper money that could be loaned to farmers so that they wouldn't lose their land during the economic downturn.Template:Sfn Loan Office Banks throughout the state were supervised by commissioners who loaned the money, ensured it was repaid, and instituted foreclosure proceedings and auctions for farmers who defaulted on their loans.Template:Sfn

After the sudden death of his first wife in 1821, Semple decided on a career as an attorney and began to study law.Template:Sfn He moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1824 to continue his studies, and after three years of learning he was admitted to the bar and returned to Edwardsville in 1827 to start a law practice.Template:Sfn

Continued career

Semple practiced law in Edwardsville and became active in politics.Template:Sfn Though he opposed slavery, he became a Democrat, and advocated abolition in opposition to most members of his party, who either supported slavery or accepted that it could continue where it already existed.Template:Sfn During the Black Hawk War of 1832, Semple was appointed adjutant of the Illinois Militia's 8th Infantry Regiment, then adjutant of a newly organized mounted regiment, and then aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside and judge advocate of Whiteside's brigade.Template:Sfn Semple later commanded the 8th Regiment as a colonel, and subsequently attained the rank of brigadier general.Template:Sfn

In 1828, Semple was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, and he served until 1832.Template:Sfn He served as Illinois Attorney General from 1832 to 1834, and did not run for reelection, preferring instead to become a candidate for the Illinois House.Template:Sfn He won a House seat and was chosen to serve as Speaker of the House, a post he held until 1837.Template:Sfn In 1836, Semple was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate.Template:Sfn In addition to practicing law, he became involved in business ventures including real estate speculation, and was one of the founders of the town of Highland and the villages of Tamaroa and Marine. Template:Sfn In 1837, he moved to Alton, where he continued to practice law.Template:Sfn

Diplomat

In 1837, President Martin Van Buren appointed Semple as Chargé d'Affaires in New Granada.Template:Sfn Semple had not sought the appointment, but decided to accept.Template:Sfn He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served from October 14, 1837, until resigning on March 4, 1842.Template:Sfn

As Chargé, Semple was empowered to act as a minister, and was commended by New Granada's government and members of the various groups opposed to it for the tact and fairness with which he advocated for U.S. interests without showing favoritism.Template:Sfn

U.S. Senator

On January 6, 1843, Semple was appointed an associate justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left when Sidney Breese resigned to accept election to the U.S. Senate.Template:Sfn He served until August 16, 1843, and was succeeded by James Shields.Template:Sfn Semple left the court to accept election to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Samuel McRoberts.Template:Sfn He served the remainder of the term to which Roberts had been elected, August 16, 1843, to March 3, 1847, and was not a candidate for reelection in 1846.Template:Sfn

In the Senate, Semple was concerned primarily with resolving the Oregon boundary dispute, which was ended by passage of the Oregon Treaty in 1846. Semple also proposed reform of the U.S. consular system.Template:Sfn Consular appointments were patronage positions, and most incumbents received no salary, but were compensated by the fees they were allowed to charge for notarizing travel documents, verifying the passenger manifests of arriving U.S. ships, and verifying the contents of arriving U.S. cargo ships.Template:Sfn Semple introduced a bill that would have professionalized the consular corps and provided for the payment of salaries in lieu of fees, but it was not adopted during his time in the Senate.Template:Sfn

At the outbreak of the Mexican–American War, Semple sought an Army commission as commander of a regiment or brigade, but was refused by President James K. Polk, who was unhappy that Semple disagreed with the results of the Polk administration's negotiations over Oregon. Template:Sfn

Later life

In 1845, Semple began work on a vehicle he called a prairie car, a forerunner of the automobile.Template:Sfn Semple's prairie car was a wagon fitted with a steam engine and wide tires that enabled it to run on roads or rough terrain.Template:Sfn He attracted investors in the project, formed a corporation and issued stock, but abandoned the effort when manufacturers proved unable to provide the needed parts, and mechanics proved unable to purchase or make the tools necessary to effect repairs on his prototype.Template:Sfn Semple left his prototype in a field outside Springfield, where for many years it was pointed out to newcomers to town as "Semple's Folly".Template:Sfn

After leaving the Senate in 1847, Semple resumed practicing law in Alton.Template:Sfn He was also a participant in several businesses, including investing in land north of Alton where he laid out a community known as Sempletown.Template:Sfn This enterprise did not succeed, and Semple decided to leave Alton.Template:Sfn He purchased an estate in Jersey County, where in 1853 he founded the town of Elsah, Illinois, and owned businesses including a mill and a distillery.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn In retirement, he served as Elsah's postmaster and worked on a history of Mexico, Central America and South America, but his manuscript was never published.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn During the American Civil War, Semple was sympathetic to the states' rights arguments of the Confederacy, but remained loyal to the Union and supported measures including loyalty oaths.Template:Sfn

Death and burial

James Semple died in Elsah on December 20, 1866, and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.Template:Sfn

Family

In 1819, Semple married Ellen Duff Green, a niece of Duff Green.Template:Sfn She died in 1821, and in 1833 Semple married Mary Stevenson Mizner, a daughter of Dr. Caldwell Cairns and Mary (Stevenson) Cairns, and the widow of Henry Mizner.Template:Sfn

Semple's stepson, Lansing B. Mizner was an American politician and diplomat who served as U.S. Minister to several Central American countries.Template:Sfn His step-grandson Addison Mizner was a well-known architect, and step-grandson Wilson Mizner was a famous playwright.

Eugene Semple, the son of James and Mary Semple, served as Governor of Washington Territory from 1887 to 1889.Template:Sfn His daughter Lucy Virginia became the wife of wealthy St. Louis businessman Edgar Ames.Template:Sfn After his death, Lucy Ames expanded her husband's business holdings and added to his fortune, and became prominent as an advocate for political causes including women's suffrage and higher education for women.Template:Sfn His daughter Julia was the wife of Ashley D. Scott, who operated a successful grocery wholesale business in St. Louis and a founder of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm and organizer of the Veiled Prophet Ball.Template:Sfn

Dr. Robert Semple, a brother of James Semple, was a founder of Benicia, California, and president of California's 1849 constitutional convention.Template:Sfn

External links

• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at Find a GraveTemplate:EditAtWikidata
• James Semple at Illinois Courts.gov