James Pearce (American politician)
James Pearce | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Maryland | |
| In office March 4, 1843 – December 20, 1862 | |
| Preceded by | John L. Kerr |
| Succeeded by | Thomas H. Hicks |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1839 | |
| Preceded by | Richard B. Carmichael |
| Succeeded by | Philip Thomas |
| In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | |
| Preceded by | Philip Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Francis Brengle |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates | |
| In office 1831-1835 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Alfred Pearce December 14, 1805 Alexandria, DC, U.S. |
| Died | December 20, 1862 (aged 57) Chestertown, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Whig, Democrat |
| Spouses | Martha J.Laird
(m. 1829; died 1845)Matilda Cox Ringgold
(m. 1847) |
| Children | 4, including James Alfred Pearce Jr. |
| Alma mater | College of New Jersey |
| Profession |
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| Signature | |
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James Alfred Pearce (December 14, 1805 – December 20, 1862) was an American politician. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the second district of Maryland from 1835 to 1839 and 1841 to 1843. He later served as a U.S. Senator from Maryland from 1843 until his death in 1862.
In 1850, he developed the so-called Pearce Plan, a part of Compromise of 1850. The Pearce Plan provided a solution for the boundary dispute between Texas and the Federal government. Pearce wrote a bill that granted Texas $10 million in compensation for agreeing with the state borders charted by the government. After being approved by Congress, the bill was signed by President Millard Fillmore.