James Semple (January 5, 1798 – December 20, 1866) was an American attorney and politician. He was

Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives The Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives is seventh (behind the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, and President of the Senate, respectively) in the line of succession to the office of ...

, Attorney General of Illinois, an associate justice of the

Illinois Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Illinois is the state supreme court, the highest court of the judiciary of Illinois. The court's authority is granted in Article VI of the current Illinois Constitution, which provides for seven justices elected from the fiv ...

Chargé d'Affaires A (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador. The term is Frenc ...

to New Granada, and

United States Senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

from

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. Semple was born in Green County, Kentucky, and was raised and educated in

Clinton County Clinton County may refer to: *Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States: **Clinton County, New York ** Clinton County, Ohio *Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...

. He served in the Kentucky militia during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

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 Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The population was 26,808 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, former governor of the Illinois Te ...

, 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 The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 representativ ...

from 1828 to 1832. He continued his militia service after moving to Illinois, and took part in the

Black Hawk War The Black Hawk War was a conflict between the United States and Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans led by Black Hawk (Sauk leader), Black Hawk, a Sauk people, Sauk leader. The war erupted after Black Hawk and a group of ...

. After service as

Illinois Attorney General The Illinois attorney general is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, the 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

in New Granada. Upon returning to Illinois, he was appointed an associate justice of the

, 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 Elsah is a village in Jersey County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the village had a total population of 519. Michael Pitchford is the village's current acting mayor. It is the home of Principia College. Elsah is a part of the Metro-East ...

, a town he founded, and was buried at

Bellefontaine Cemetery Bellefontaine Cemetery is a nonprofit, non-denominational cemetery and arboretum in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1849 as a rural cemetery, Bellefontaine has several architecturally significant monuments and mausoleums such as the Louis Su ...

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

Early life

James Semple was born in Green County, Kentucky, on January 5, 1798, the son of John Walker Semple and Lucy (Robertson) Semple. Semple's grandfather Robert Semple served in the Virginia legislature, and his father served in the legislature of Kentucky. James Semple was raised on his father's

homestead, which John Sample named "76". 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.

Start of career

In 1814, the sixteen-year-old Semple volunteered for the Kentucky Militia during the

. He served until the end war, and in 1817 received a commission as an ensign in Kentucky's 81st Militia Regiment. In 1818, Semple moved to

, 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. In addition, he joined the Missouri Militia's 21st Infantry Regiment, which he later commanded with the rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

. Soon after arriving in Chariton, Semple was elected a state Loan Commissioner. In response to the

Panic of 1819 The Panic of 1819 was the first widespread and durable financial crisis in the United States that slowed westward expansion in the Cotton Belt and was followed by a general collapse of the American economy that persisted through 1821. The Panic ...

, 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. 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. After the sudden death of his first wife in 1821, Semple decided on a career as an attorney and began to study law. He moved to

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

, 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.

Continued career

Semple practiced law in Edwardsville and became active in politics. 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. During the

of 1832, Semple was appointed

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...

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. Semple later commanded the 8th Regiment as a colonel, and subsequently attained the rank of brigadier general. In 1828, Semple was elected to the

, and he served until 1832. He served as

from 1832 to 1834, and did not run for reelection, preferring instead to become a candidate for the Illinois House. He won a House seat and was chosen to serve as

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hung ...

, a post he held until 1837. In 1836, Semple was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate. 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 Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...

and the villages of Tamaroa and Marine. In 1837, he moved to Alton, where he continued to practice law.

Diplomat

In 1837, President

Martin Van Buren Martin Van Buren ( ; ; December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was the eighth president of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. A primary founder of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as Attorney General o ...

appointed Semple as

in New Granada. Semple had not sought the appointment, but decided to accept. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served from October 14, 1837, until resigning on March 4, 1842. 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.

U.S. Senator

On January 6, 1843, Semple was appointed an associate justice of the

, filling the vacancy left when Sidney Breese resigned to accept election to the U.S. Senate. He served until August 16, 1843, and was succeeded by James Shields. Semple left the court to accept election to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Samuel McRoberts. 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. In the Senate, Semple was concerned primarily with resolving the

Oregon boundary dispute The Oregon boundary dispute or the Oregon Question was a 19th-century territorial dispute over the political division of the Pacific Northwest of North America between several nations that had competing territorial and commercial aspirations in ...

, which was ended by passage of the

Oregon Treaty The Oregon Treaty was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United States that was signed on June 15, 1846, in Washington, D.C. The treaty brought an end to the Oregon boundary dispute by settling competing American and British claims to ...

in 1846. Semple also proposed reform of the U.S. consular system. 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. 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. At the outbreak of the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

, Semple sought an Army commission as commander of a regiment or brigade, but was refused by President

James K. Polk James Knox Polk (; November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. A protégé of Andrew Jackson and a member of the Democratic Party, he was an advocate of Jacksonian democracy and ...

, who was unhappy that Semple disagreed with the results of the Polk administration's negotiations over Oregon.

Later life

In 1845, Semple began work on a vehicle he called a prairie car, a forerunner of the automobile. 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. 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. 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". After leaving the Senate in 1847, Semple resumed practicing law in Alton. He was also a participant in several businesses, including investing in land north of Alton where he laid out a community known as Sempletown. This enterprise did not succeed, and Semple decided to leave Alton. He purchased an estate in Jersey County, where in 1853 he founded the town of

, and owned businesses including a mill and a distillery. 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. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, Semple was sympathetic to the states' rights arguments of the Confederacy, but remained loyal to the Union and supported measures including loyalty oaths.

Death and burial

James Semple died in Elsah on December 20, 1866, and was buried at

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

Family

In 1819, Semple married Ellen Duff Green, a niece of

Duff Green Duff Green (August 15, 1791June 10, 1875) was an American teacher, military leader, Democratic Party politician, journalist, author, diplomat and industrialist. Early life and education Green, the son of William and Lucy Ann (Marshall) Green, ...

. 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. Semple's stepson, Lansing B. Mizner was an American politician and diplomat who served as U.S. Minister to several Central American countries. His step-grandson

Addison Mizner Addison Cairns Mizner ( ) (December 12, 1872 – February 5, 1933) was an American architect whose Mediterranean Revival Style architecture, Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, Spanish Colonial Revival style interpret ...

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. His daughter Lucy Virginia became the wife of wealthy St. Louis businessman Edgar Ames. 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. 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 The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (M.O.V.P.E.R.), often known as "The Grotto," is a Masonic body founded in 1889 by Herman LeRoy Fairchild and the members of Hamilton Lodge in Hamilton, New York. M.O.V.P.E.R. describes ...

and organizer of the

Veiled Prophet Ball The Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball was a yearly ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri, over which a Characterization, mythical figure called the ''Veiled Prophet'' presided. The first events were in 1878 and were organized and funded by the Veiled Proph ...

. Dr. Robert Semple, a brother of James Semple, was a founder of

Benicia, California Benicia ( , ) is a city in Solano County, California, located on the north bank of the Carquinez Strait in the North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It served as the List of capitals in the United S ...

, and president of California's 1849 constitutional convention.

References

Sources

Magazines

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Books

External links

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James Semple
at Illinois Courts.gov {{DEFAULTSORT:Semple, James 1798 births 1866 deaths Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives Illinois attorneys general Democratic Party United States senators from Illinois People from Jersey County, Illinois 19th-century American diplomats American people of the Black Hawk War Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois People from Green County, Kentucky Burials at Bellefontaine Cemetery American expatriates in Colombia Kentucky militia 19th-century Illinois state court judges 19th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly 19th-century United States senators