Sampson W. Harris letters

Collection

Identifier: MSS-0642

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of five letters written from Washington, DC, by then Senator Sampson W. Harris of Alabama. Two of the letters, dated 28 June 1848 and 2 August 1848, are to the editors of the Congressional Globe requesting copies of that publication. Two of the other three letters, dated 22 August 1855 and 13 March 1856 are to the Honorable J.C. Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy, requesting the appointment of Mr. R.T. Thom of Montgomery, Alabama, to the post of purser in the Navy. The final letter is also to the Honorable J.C. Dobbin, dated 13 February 1857, naming Andrew Jefferson Clark of Jacksonville, Benton County, Alabama, to a vacancy at the Naval School.

Dates

1848-1857

Creator

Harris, Sampson W. (Sampson Willis) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical / Historical

Sampson W. Harris was born in Elbert County, Georgia on 23 February 1809, the son of Judge Stephen Harris of Eatonton, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1828 and read law with his uncle, Judge Eli Shorter at Eatonton. After practicing there for a short time, he moved to Alabama in 1837 and located at Wetumka. He was elected solicitor of the 8th Court in 1841 but resigned in 1844 when he was elected to the Alabama State Senate. Following two years in the state senate, he was elected to the United States Senate and served from 1847 to 1857. He died in Washington, DC, on 1 April 1857, shortly after leaving office.

Extent

0.05 Linear Feet (5 items, 8 pages)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Letters from Senator Sampson W. Harris of Alabama, dating from 1848 to 1857, written from Washington, DC, to the Congressional Globe and to the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable J.C. Dobbin.