James H. Knowlton (August 22, 1813January 29, 1879) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

politician and lawyer. He served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. His brother,

Wiram Knowlton Wiram Knowlton (January 24, 1816June 27, 1863) was an American politician and jurist from Wisconsin. He was a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge and '' ex officio'' Justice of the pre-1853 Wisconsin Supreme Court (the Wisconsin Supreme Court before 185 ...

, was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Early life and career

Knowlton was born in Canandaigua, New York, in 1813. His brother and parents moved to the Wisconsin Territory in the 1830s, and he joined them at Janesville in 1838. He was there only briefly before moving to Mineral Point, and in 1847, he moved to Shullsburg, in Lafayette County. At Shullsburg he completed his legal studies, was admitted to the bar, and served as the first probate judge of the county.

Political career

He was a member of the legal team defending Judge

Levi Hubbell Levi Hubbell (April 15, 1808 – December 8, 1876) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He was the first Wisconsin state official to be impeached by the Wisconsin State Assembly in his role as Wisconsin circuit court judge for the ...

during his 1853

impeachment Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In ...

, and later that year was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Democrat. He was not reelected in 1854, but was returned to office again in 1856, this time as a Republican. Following the 1855 election, however, Knowlton became involved in Republican gubernatorial candidate Coles Bashford's legal challenge of the election results. Bashford ultimately prevailed and took office in March 1856. After the 1856 legislative session, Knowlton moved back to Janesville, in Rock County, where he was elected to his third and final Assembly term in 1857. In 1862, he was a candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court but was not elected.

Later years

Knowlton moved to Chicago in 1865 and continued his law practice. He lost his entire library in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He died in 1879 after a long period of illness.

Personal life and family

Knowlton's brother,

, was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowlton, James Politicians from Canandaigua, New York Politicians from Janesville, Wisconsin People from Shullsburg, Wisconsin Wisconsin Whigs 19th-century American legislators Wisconsin lawyers 1813 births 1879 deaths 19th-century American lawyers Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly