James Phelan Jr.

James Phelan Jr. (December 7, 1856 – January 30, 1891) was a nineteenth-century lawyer and politician from Tennessee. He served as a United States Congressman from Tennessee, representing the tenth district.

James Phelan Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 10th district
In office
March 4, 1887 – January 30, 1891
Preceded byZachary Taylor
Succeeded byJosiah Patterson
Personal details
BornDecember 7, 1856 (1856-12-07)
Aberdeen, Mississippi
DiedJanuary 30, 1891 (1891-01-31) (aged 34)
Nassau, Bahamas
Citizenship United States
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Early Phelan
Alma materUniversity of Leipzig
ProfessionAttorney

politician

newspaperman

author

Biography

Phelan was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi to James Phelan Sr., a member of the Confederate Congress, and Eliza J Phelan. He was of Irish descent on his father's side, and Scottish descent on his mother' side. He attended various schools. In 1874 he went abroad, and in 1878 received his Ph.D. from the University of Leipzig, having written his dissertation on the life and works of Philip Massinger.[1] Returning to the United States, he married Mary Early of Virginia,[2] with whom he had three children.

Career

In 1881, Phelan became the owner of The Avalanche, a newspaper in Memphis, Tennessee. He was admitted to the Tennessee bar that same year, and began the practice of law in Memphis.[3]

Elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, Phelan served in that body from March 4, 1887, until his death in 1891.[4] During his term in the House, he published his book, History of Tennessee, the Making of a State.[5]

Death

Phelan died in Nassau, Bahamas on January 30, 1891. He is interred at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.[6]

See also

References
  1. Phelan, James (1878). On Philip Massinger. Halle: E. Kallas.
  2. Memorial addresses on the life and character of James Phelan, a representative from Tennessee, 1891
  3. "James Phelan Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. "James Phelan Jr". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  5. Phelan, James (1888). History of Tennessee: The Making of a State. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin.
  6. "James Phelan Jr". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 23 April 2013.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Zachary Taylor		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 10th congressional district
March 4, 1887 - January 30, 1891		 Succeeded by
Josiah Patterson
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