James Wilson II

James Wilson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1847 – September 9, 1850
Preceded by	New Hampshire's At-large congressional district
Succeeded by	George W. Morrison
Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1828–1829
Preceded by	Henry Hubbard
Succeeded by	James B. Thornton
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1825–1837, 1840, 1846, 1871–1872
Personal details
Born	March 18, 1797 Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	May 29, 1881(1881-05-29) (aged 84) Keene, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Mary Low Richardson
Relations	Mary Elizabeth Wilson Sherwood
Children	7

James Wilson II (March 18, 1797 – May 29, 1881) was a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, son of James Wilson (1766–1839).

Early life and education

Born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, James Wilson II attended New Ipswich Academy and the academies at Atkinson and Exeter. He moved with his parents to Keene, New Hampshire, in 1815, and graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1820.

Career

Wilson served as member of the New Hampshire State militia 1820-1840 and was successively promoted from captain to major general. A law student, he was admitted to the bar in 1823 and commenced practice in Keene. He served as member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives 1825–1837, 1840, and 1846, and served as Speaker in 1828. He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1835 and 1838. He served as delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1840 and was Surveyor general of public lands in the Territories of Wisconsin and Iowa 1841–1845.

Wilson was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses and served from March 4, 1847, to September 9, 1850, when he resigned. Politically, he was considered a "lackey" of Daniel Webster.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Thirtieth Congress). He was appointed one of the land claim commissioners for California in 1851 and served in this capacity until 1853. He settled in San Francisco and remained there until 1867, when he returned to Keene, New Hampshire. He was again a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1871 and 1872.

Personal life and death

Wilson and his wife, Mary Low Wilson (née Richardson), had seven children. Their eldest daughter was Mary Elizabeth Sherwood.

He died in Keene, New Hampshire on May 29, 1881, aged 84, and was interred in Woodland Cemetery.

References

Bibliography

• United States Congress. "James Wilson II (id: W000587)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.