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| Amid a three-way contest involving [[UnitedStates/LymanTrumbull|Trumbull]] and [[UnitedStates/AbrahamLincoln|Lincoln]], he lost that senate seat in 1854. | Amid a four-way contest involving [[UnitedStates/LymanTrumbull|Trumbull]], [[UnitedStates/AbrahamLincoln|Lincoln]], and [[UnitedStates/JoelAldrichMatteson|Matteson]], he lost that senate seat in 1854. |
James Shields
James Shields was a Democratic politician and senator.
Contents
History
Shields immigrated from Ireland in 1826.
Following Douglas' resignation from the Illinois Supreme Court in 1843, Shields was eventually appointed to that seat. Shortly after he left the court to serve as commissioner of the General Land Office.
He fought in the Mexican-American War as a brigadier general.
Polk nominated Shields to serve as governor of the new Oregon Territory. Despite receiving Senate approval, he declined the office to instead contest Breese's seat in the senate.
Amid a four-way contest involving Trumbull, Lincoln, and Matteson, he lost that senate seat in 1854.
He moved to Minnesota Territory and, when it acceded to the union as a state in 1858, he was nominated for the new senate seat. He and Rice held a lottery to decide who would take the shorter term. As a result, Shields only served until the next Congress was sworn in, in March 1859.
He then moved to California.
He fought in the Civil War as a brigadier general. He was considered for promotions to major general, and for command over the Army of the Potomac, but ultimately he resigned due to a poor relationship with Stanton.
He finally moved to Missouri. He served in the state's House of Representatives. He was put forward for the senate seat in 1868, but ultimately not elected to it.
Following Bogy's death in 1877, Armstrong filled his senate seat for about 2 years until Shields was elected in 1879 to serve the final few months. He did not seek re-election. He is the only person to have served in the Senate for three different states.