James Meacham


James Meacham was an American politician, minister and professor. He served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont.

Early life

Meacham was born in Rutland, Vermont to Lewis and Naomi Eayres Meacham. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1832 and taught in the seminary at Castleton, Vermont, from 1832 until 1833. In addition, he attended the local academy at St. Albans, Vermont, and taught at St. Albans Academy from 1833 until 1834. He was a tutor at Middlebury College from 1836 until 1838.
From 1834 until 1836 he attended Andover Theological Seminary where he studied for the ministry. He was ordained as a Congregational minister in 1838, assuming his duties as pastor in New Haven, Vermont, where he served as minister from 1839 to 1846. He was also a tutor and professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at Middlebury College from 1846 to 1850.

Political career

Meacham was elected as a Whig candidate to the 31st United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of George P. Marsh. Meacham was reelected as a Whig candidate to the 32nd and 33rd congresses, and then elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the 34th United States Congress. He served in Congress from December 3, 1849, until his death on August 23, 1856. He served as chairman for the Committee on the District of Columbia in the 34th Congress.
He was a trustee at Middlebury College from 1855 until 1856, and was a regent at the Smithsonian Institution from 1852 until 1856.

Personal life

Meacham married Caroline Button on May 17, 1842. They had one child together, Elias B. Meacham. Following Caroline's death, Meacham married Mary Gifford on February 20, 1845. Meacham and Mary had two children together, Emma P. Meacham and William M. Davis.

Death and legacy

He died in Rutland, Vermont and is interred in West Cemetery in Middlebury, Vermont. A cenotaph in his memory is located at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.