James Semple

James Semple
United States Senator from Illinois
In office December 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Samuel McRoberts
Succeeded by	Stephen A. Douglas
Member of Illinois House of Representatives
In office 1828-1833
Personal details
Born	January 5, 1798 Green County, Kentucky
Died	December 20, 1866 (aged 68) Elsah, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Attorney, soldier, businessman
Military service
Service/branch	Kentucky Militia United States Army
Battles/wars	Black Hawk War

James Semple (January 5, 1798 – December 20, 1866) was a United States Senator from Illinois.^[1]

Born in Green County, Kentucky, he had some private education as well as public schooling before enlisting in the Army in 1814 and being an ensign in the Kentucky Militia in 1816. He moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1818 and to Chariton, Missouri, in 1819. During the Black Hawk War of 1832, he served as an adjutant.^[2]

Semple served in the Illinois House of Representatives and was the speaker of the house from 1834 to 1838. Semple unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 1836. President Martin Van Buren appointed him as Chargé d'Affaires to New Granada on 14 October 1837, and he served in that capacity until 4 March 1842.

Semple was the judge of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1842 to 1843. He was appointed and subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel McRoberts and served from December 4, 1843, to March 3, 1847. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1846.

Semple ended up in Jersey County, Illinois, where in 1853 he founded the town of Elsah, Illinois. His son Eugene Semple was a politician in the territory and state of Washington.

James Semple died in Elsah, Illinois on December 20, 1866 and is buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.

Notes

1. Illinois Supreme Court-James Semple
2. Illinois Black Hawk War veterans

References

• James Semple at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress