James Ferguson Dowdell (November 26, 1818 – September 6, 1871) was the second President of the East Alabama College, now known as Auburn University, from 1868 to 1870, and a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...

.Congress biography
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Biography

James Ferguson Dowdell was born on November 26, 1818, near

Monticello, Georgia Monticello is the largest city and the county seat of Jasper County, Georgia, United States. The city includes historic buildings such as the Jasper County Courthouse, Monticello High School and the Monticello Historic District. The populati ...

. Dowdell completed preparatory studies and in 1840 and graduated from Randolph-Macon College,

Ashland, Virginia Ashland is a town in Hanover County, Virginia, United States, located north of Richmond along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 7,225, up from 6,619 at the 2000 census. Ashland is named after the Le ...

. He studied

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

. He was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

in 1841 and commenced practice in

Greenville, Georgia Greenville is a city and the county seat of Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 794 at the 2020 census. The city is located southwest of Atlanta and, as such, is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area (Atlanta-Sandy Sprin ...

. He moved to

Oak Bowery, Alabama Oak Bowery is an unincorporated community in southern Chambers County, Alabama, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 431, north of Auburn. Demographics History Oak Bowery was first settled in 1828 by South Carolinians and was originall ...

, in 1846 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the State house of representatives in 1849 and 1851. James Dowdell was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859).Auburn library
/ref> During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

he served as

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Alabama Volunteer Infantry, under General

Price A price is the (usually not negative) quantity of payment or compensation given by one party to another in return for goods or services. In some situations, the price of production has a different name. If the product is a "good" in the ...

from 1862 until the close of the war. From 1868 to 1870, he served as the second President of the East Alabama College, now known as Auburn University.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowdell, James Ferguson 1818 births 1871 deaths People from Chambers County, Alabama People from Monticello, Georgia Confederate States Army officers Randolph–Macon College alumni Presidents of Auburn University People of Alabama in the American Civil War Auburn High School (Alabama) people Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama People from Greenville, Georgia 19th-century American politicians