Reuben Chapman (July 15, 1799 – May 17, 1882) was an American lawyer and politician.

Life

Born on July 15, 1799, in

Bowling Green, Virginia Bowling Green is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,111 at the 2010 census. The county seat of Caroline County since 1803, Bowling Green is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing" ...

, he moved to Alabama in 1824, where he established a law practice. He represented

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

in the

U.S. House of Representatives 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 ...

from March 4, 1835, to March 3, 1847, and served as the 13th

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

from 1847 to 1849. He died in

Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in t ...

on May 17, 1882. While a member of the House of Representatives he had a very contentious relationship with the French ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt. In 1844 the ambassador had made remarks towards him and Virginia congressman George W. Hopkins, and Chapman challenged Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt to a

duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon Code duello, rules. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the r ...

, however, the French ambassador backed down. That same year the French ambassador also offended Virginia congressman Lewis Steenrod, though it is unknown precisely what words were exchanged. Chapman and Hopkins grew so hostile towards the French ambassador that eventually in 1846 President

James K. Polk James Knox Polk (November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. He previously was the 13th speaker of the House of Representatives (1835–1839) and ninth governor of Tennessee (183 ...

asked the French government to send Monsieur Fourier home and select a new ambassador to the United States.Governor Reuben Chapman by Thomas McAdory Owen · 1921

References

Sources

Biographic sketch at U.S. Congress websiteReuben Chapman 1847-1849
Encyclopedia of Alabama *Governor Reuben Chapman by Thomas McAdory Owen · 1921

External links

Biographic sketch at U.S. Congress websiteReuben Chapman 1847-1849
Encyclopedia of Alabama 1799 births 1882 deaths People from Bowling Green, Virginia Democratic Party governors of Alabama Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama 19th-century American politicians {{Alabama-politician-stub