John Patton Erwin (1795–1857) was an American Whig politician. He served as the

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...

from 1821 to 1822, and from 1834 to 1835.

Early life

John Patton Erwin was born on January 8, 1795, in

Wilkes County, North Carolina Wilkes County is a county located in the US state of North Carolina. It is a part of the state's western mountain region. As of the 2020 census the population was 65,969, in 2010 the census listed the population at 69,340. Its county seat is ...

. His father was Col. Andrew Patton Erwin, a land speculator, and his mother, Jane Patton.Nashville City Cemetery
/ref> He had nine siblings. His brothers-in-law included John Williams, U.S. Senator from Tennessee,

Lewis Williams Lewis Williams (February 1, 1782 – February 23, 1842) was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1815 and 1842. Born in Surry County, North Carolina (present-day Forsyth County), Williams attended the University of North Carolina ...

, a U.S. Representative from North Carolina, and Thomas Lanier Williams, Justice of the

Tennessee Supreme Court The Tennessee Supreme Court is the ultimate judicial tribunal of the state of Tennessee. Roger A. Page is the Chief Justice. Unlike other states, in which the state attorney general is directly elected or appointed by the governor or state leg ...

Career

In 1817, he became an alderman in Nashville and in 1820 he was admitted to the bar. He served as Mayor of Nashville from 1821 to 1822.Nashville Library
/ref> He also served as Principal Clerk of the Tennessee House of Representatives as well as editor of the '' Nashville Whig''.Lynn Hudson Parsons, ''The Birth of Modern Politics : Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828'', Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 12

/ref> He was opposed to

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...

. In 1826, President

John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams (; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist who served as the sixth president of the United States, from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States ...

appointed him United States Postmaster in Nashville. In 1827, he described

David Crockett David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was an American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. He is often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier". He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of ...

as, "not only illiterate, but he is rough & uncouth, talks much & loudly, and is by far, more in his proper place when hunting a Bear" yet also "independent and fearless & has a popularity at home that is unaccountable."Glenn C. Altschuker
Michael Wallis' biography of David Crockett at once authentic, contrived
''

Tulsa World The ''Tulsa World'' is the daily newspaper for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and primary newspaper for the northeastern and eastern portions of Oklahoma. Tulsa World Media Company is part of Lee Enterprises. The new owners announced in January 20 ...

'', 7/10/2011 Later, he served as Cashier at the Yeateman, Woods Bank. In 1830, he became Justice of the Peace for two terms. From 1834 to 1835, he served as Mayor of Nashville a second time.

Personal life

He married Frances Lanier Williams (1796–1872), a member of the Lanier family, in 1815. Daughters of the American Revolution, ''Lineage Book'', The Society, 1925, Volume 81, p. 6

/ref>Hannah Daviess Pittman, ''Americans of gentle birth and their ancestors: a genealogical encyclopedia, embracing many authenticated lineages and biographical sketches of the founders of the Colonies and their descendants found in all parts of the United States'', Genealogical Pub. Co., 1970, Volume 1, p. 13

/ref> They had four daughters, Ellen, Mary Caroline, Rebecca and Amelia. In his last years, he was paralyzed. In 1831, he bought the "Buena Vista" mansion.

Death and legacy

He died on August 27, 1857, and he is buried in the

Nashville City Cemetery Nashville City Cemetery is the oldest public cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. Many of Nashville's prominent historical figures are buried there. It includes the tombs of 22,000 people, 6,000 of whom were African Americans. Overview Nashville ...

. After his death, his widow sold them "Buena Vista" mansion to the

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia The Congregation of St. Cecilia, commonly known as the Nashville Dominicans, is a religious institute of the Roman Catholic Church located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a member of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, one of the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Erwin, John Patton 1795 births 1857 deaths People from Wilkes County, North Carolina Tennessee Whigs 19th-century American politicians Mayors of Nashville, Tennessee Burials in Tennessee