John Botts

John Minor Botts
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district
In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	James Seddon
Succeeded by	James Seddon
Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs
In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	Hugh Haralson
Succeeded by	Armistead Burt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	John Robertson
Succeeded by	William Taylor
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Henrico County
In office 1833–1838
Preceded by	Robert A. Mayo
Succeeded by	Sherwin McRae
Personal details
Born	September 16, 1802 Dumfries, Virginia
Died	January 8, 1869 (aged 66) Culpeper, Virginia
Political party	Whig
Other political affiliations	Constitutional Union
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

John Minor Botts (September 16, 1802 – January 8, 1869) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from Virginia.

Life and career

Botts's home in Culpeper, Virginia, Botts and family on porch, 1863.

Botts was born in Dumfries, Virginia. Both of his parents were killed in the Richmond Theatre fire on 26 December 1811, so he and his siblings were raised by relatives in Fredericksburg. Botts attended the common schools in Richmond, Virginia, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. He moved to Henrico County, Virginia, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1833 to 1839. Botts was elected as a Whig to the United States House of Representatives in 1838, serving from 1839 to 1843. He was unsuccessful for reelection in 1842 but was elected again in 1846, serving from 1847 to 1849. He was chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs from 1847 to 1849. Botts was once again unsuccessful for reelection in 1848 and again in 1850. He represented the city of Richmond and the counties of Charles City, Henrico, and New Kent in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 and resumed practicing law in Richmond in 1852.

Botts, who opposed President John Tyler, introduced a resolution on July 10, 1842. It levied several charges against the President and called for a nine-member committee to investigate his behavior, with the expectation of a formal impeachment recommendation. The Botts bill, however, was tabled until the following January, when it was rejected, 127−83.^[1]

During the presidential election of 1860, Botts, a member of the United States Constitutional Union Party, supported John Bell.^[2] Though his candidate was unsuccessful, Botts continued to support the principles of the Constitutional Union party, and was uncompromisingly Unionist in his sentiments while his native state moved toward secession^[3] and through the American Civil War, but refused to fight against Virginia.^[4] In 1862, he was jailed without trial for his Unionist positions^[5] by the Confederate provost marshal John H. Winder.^[6]

Botts was a delegate to the Southern Loyalists' Convention in 1866 before his death on January 8, 1869 in Culpeper, Virginia.^[7] He was interred in the Shockoe Hill Cemetery in Richmond, next to his son Archibald, who died in 1847 while serving with the U.S. Army in Mexico. John's grave marker reads: "He was under all circumstances an inflexible friend of the American Union. 'I know no North, no South, no East, no West. I know only my Country, my whole Country, and nothing but my Country.'"

Election of 1847

Botts was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 55.37% of the vote, defeating Democrat Walter D. Leake.

Memoirs

Botts published his memoirs, The Great Rebellion: Its Secret History, Rise, Progress, and Disastrous Failure (1866).

References

1. Chitwood, p. 303; Seager, p. 169.
2. "Presidential.; The Campaign in Virginia. John Minor Botts in the Field---He Denounces the Disunionists.", The New York Times, October 2, 1860
3. John Minor Botts, "A Bold Protest Against Disunion.; Letter From John Minor Botts Protesting Against Secession.", The New York Times, December 11, 1860
4. John Minor Botts, "A Despairing Patriot.; Important Letter from Hon. J.M. Botts.", The New York Times, May 3, 1861
5. "IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTH.; Great Excitement in the Rebel Capital. Full Particulars of the Arrest of John Minor Botts and Other Prominent Citizens.", The New York Times, March 7, 1862
6. McPherson, James, Battle Cry of Freedom, Penguin Books, 1990, ISBN 978-0-14-012518-4, p.434
7. "OBITUARY.; John Minor Botts", The New York Times

External links

• My Inwood 1847 Richmond letter mentioning Botts
• John Botts at Find A Grave
• John Minor Botts in Union or Secession: Virginians Decide at the Library of Virginia
• "Auburn," the Botts estate in Culpeper, Va.

• John Botts at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress