James Murray Hooker (October 29, 1873 – August 6, 1940) was a

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

and

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

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

Biography

Born in Buffalo Ridge, Virginia, Hooker attended the public schools. He was graduated from the

College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula ...

, and from the law department of

Washington and Lee University , mottoeng = "Not Unmindful of the Future" , established = , type = Private liberal arts university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.092 billion (2021) , president = William C. Dudley , provost = Lena Hill , city = Lexingto ...

Lexington, Virginia Lexington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines ...

, in 1896. He was admitted to the bar in 1896 and commenced practice in Stuart, Virginia. He served as Commonwealth's attorney for

Patrick County, Virginia Patrick County is a county located on the central southern border of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,608. Its county seat is Stuart. It is located within both the rolling hills and valleys of the Pie ...

. He served as delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention in 1901 and 1902. He served as member of the board of visitors to the

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

at Lexington in 1901–1906. He served as member of the Virginia Fisheries Commission in 1908–1914. Hooker 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 Sixty-seventh Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rorer A. James. He was reelected to the Sixty-eighth Congress and served from November 8, 1921, to March 3, 1925. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1924. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1924. He served as chairman of the Democratic State committee in 1925. He resumed the practice of his profession at Stuart, Virginia, where he died August 6, 1940. He was interred in Stuart Cemetery.

Electoral history

*1921; Hooker was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 63.61% of the vote in a special election, defeating Republican Thomas L. Felts and Independent J.R. Wilson. *1922; Hooker was re-elected with 70.92% of the vote, defeating Republican Charles P. Smith.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hooker, James Murray 1873 births 1940 deaths College of William & Mary alumni Washington and Lee University School of Law alumni County and city Commonwealth's Attorneys in Virginia Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia 20th-century American politicians People from Amherst County, Virginia Virginia lawyers