John McCormick Lea
John McCormick Lea (1818-1903) was an American Whig politician.[1][2][3] He served as the Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee from 1849 to 1850.[1][2][3][4]
Biography
Early life
He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on December 25, 1818.[1][4] He graduated from the University of Nashville.[1] His father was Luke Lea (1783–1851), a United States Representative from Tennessee, and his mother, Susan Wells McCormick.[1]
Career
He was a lawyer and a circuit judge.[1] He served as vice-president of First American National Bank.[1] He served as President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Nashville.[1] From 1842 to 1845, he served as Assistant U.S. District Attorney.[3] From 1849 to 1850, he served as Mayor of Nashville.[1][2][4] He was part of the commission to surrender Nashville to the Union Army in February 1862.[3] From 1888 to 1903, he served as President of the Tennessee Historical Society.[1][3]
Personal life
He married Elizabeth Overton in 1843.[1] They had three sons, Overton, Robert B. and Luke Lea.[1] He attended the First Presbyterian Church.[1] He died in Monteagle, Tennessee on September 21, 1903, and he is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.[1][4]
References
- Robert Ambrose Halley, John McCormick Lea, the ideal citizen: A biographical sketch (Cumberland Press, 1904).
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alexander Allison |
Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee 1849-1850 |
Succeeded by John Hugh Smith |