Alexander Montgomery (died September 7, 1878) was a Mississippi lawyer who served as a justice of the

Supreme Court of Mississippi The Supreme Court of Mississippi is the highest court in the state of Mississippi. It was established in the first constitution of the state following its admission as a State of the Union in 1817 and was known as the High Court of Errors and Appe ...

from 1831 to 1833. Born in

Natchez Natchez may refer to: Places * Natchez, Alabama, United States * Natchez, Indiana, United States * Natchez, Louisiana, United States * Natchez, Mississippi, a city in southwestern Mississippi, United States * Grand Village of the Natchez, a site o ...

, Adams County, Mississippi,Dunbar Rowland, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Mississippi History'', Volume 2 (1907), p. 280.''Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi'' (1891), p. 450. Montgomery was the son of a pioneers also named Alexander Montgomery, who had been chosen by President

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of t ...

to serve on the Territorial council of Mississippi prior to statehood. The younger Montgomery was a pupil of

George Poindexter George Poindexter (April 19, 1779 − September 5, 1853) was an American politician, lawyer and judge from Mississippi. Born in Virginia, he moved to the Mississippi Territory in 1802. He served as United States Representative from the newly adm ...

and Edward Turner, and established a law practice in partnership with Samuel S. Boyd, a native of Maine; their firm "was for many years one of the leading ones of the State". Following the resignation of Judge Joshua Child from the state supreme court, Montgomery was one of several candidates put forth for the seat."At Home", ''The Natchez Weekly Courier'' (December 9, 1831), p. 6. Upon his election by the legislature to the circuit and supreme court of the state in November, 1831, defeating

William L. Sharkey William Lewis Sharkey (July 12, 1798 – March 30, 1873) was an American judge and politician from Mississippi. A staunch Unionists (American), Unionist during the American Civil War, Civil War, he opposed the 1861 secession of Mississippi. Afte ...

for that position "by a considerable majority", Montgomery became the first native Mississippian on the bench.Thomas H. Somerville, "A Sketch of the Supreme Court of Mississippi", in Horace W. Fuller, ed.,''The Green Bag'', Vol. XI (1899), p. 506. His term upon the bench was cut short by the adoption of a new constitution and judicial system, which went into effect in 1833. After the end of his judicial service, he resumed the practice of the law in

Vicksburg, Mississippi Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat, and the population at the 2010 census was 23,856. Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vi ...

. Montgomery appeared as a witness in an 1840 controversy, where he was described as "a distinguished and influential '' Whig'', who adheres to the maxim that 'the private station is the post of honor'". In 1845, he was appointed to a committee of five jurists asked to prepare resolutions commemorating the death of U.S. Supreme Court justice

Joseph Story Joseph Story (September 18, 1779 – September 10, 1845) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving from 1812 to 1845. He is most remembered for his opinions in ''Martin v. Hunter's Lessee'' and '' United States ...

. Montgomery "was an active practitioner to a very advanced age", and died at the home of a Dr. Nailer, a relative, in

Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...

Warren County, Mississippi Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,773. Its county seat is Vicksburg. Created by legislative act of December 22, 1809, Warren County is named for American Revolution ...

, when "far advanced in years"."Death of Judge Alexander Montgomery", ''The Clarion-Ledger'' (September 18, 1878), p. 2.

References

Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court Date of birth unknown 1878 deaths People from Natchez, Mississippi {{Mississippi-state-judge-stub

See also

References