James B. Bowlin

James B. Bowlin

James Butler Bowlin(January 16, 1804 – July 19, 1874) was aU.S. RepresentativefromMissouri.Born inSpotsylvania County, VirginianearFredericksburg,Bowlin took an apprenticeship to a trade but abandoned it to teach at a school. He received a classical education and moved toLewisburg, Virginiain 1825. Bowlin studied law and wasadmitted to the barin 1822, commencing his practice in Greenbrier County. He moved toSt. Louis, Missouriin 1833 and continued the practice of law. Bowlin also established the Farmers and Mechanics' Advocate. He owned slaves.

Bowlin served as Chief Clerk of the State House of Representatives in 1836. He served as a member of theMissouri House of Representativesin 1836 and 1837, was appointed district attorney for St. Louis in 1837, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the State House of Representatives in 1838. Bowlin was elected judge of the criminal court in 1839 and served until his resignation in 1842.

Bowlin was elected as aDemocratto theTwenty-eighthand to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1851). He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Public Lands (Thirty-first Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress.

Bowlin was appointedMinister ResidenttoNew Granadaby PresidentPierceDecember 13, 1854. He was appointed commissioner toParaguayby President Buchanan September 9, 1858, and served until February 10, 1859, when theexpeditionto that country ended.

Main article:Paraguay expedition

Afterwards, Bowlin resumed the practice of law. He died in St. Louis, July 19, 1874, and was interred inBellefontaine Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress."James B. Bowlin (id: B000701)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.