John A. Quitman
John Quitman | |
|---|---|
Photograph by Mathew Brady | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1855 – July 17, 1858 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | John McRae |
| 10th and 16th Governor of Mississippi | |
| In office January 10, 1850 – February 3, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph W. Matthews |
| Succeeded by | John Guion |
| In office December 3, 1835 – January 7, 1836 Acting | |
| Preceded by | Hiram Runnels |
| Succeeded by | Charles Lynch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1, 1798 Rhinebeck, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 1858 (aged 59) Natchez, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Resting place | Natchez City Cemetery |
| Party | Whig (before 1848) Democratic (1848–1852 and 1852-1858) Southern Rights (1852) |
| Spouse | Eliza Turner |
| Education | Hartwick College (BA) |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1848 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | United States Volunteers |
| Commands | 2nd Brigade, 1st Volunteer Division 4th Volunteer Division Military Governor of Mexico City |
| Battles/wars | |
John Anthony Quitman (September 1, 1798 – July 17, 1858) was an American lawyer, politician, and soldier. As president of the Mississippi Senate, he was the acting governor of Mississippi for one month (from December 3, 1835 to January 7, 1836) as a Whig. He was elected governor in 1849 as a Democrat, and served from January 10, 1850, until his resignation on February 3, 1851, shortly after his arrest for violating U.S. neutrality laws. He was strongly pro-slavery and a leading Fire-Eater.
According to Quitman's first biographer, John F. H. Claiborne, writing in 1860, "A more ambitious man never lived. ...He was greedy for military fame." "For Quitman, military glory and political ambition had priority over management of his three plantations and numerous slaves."