Nathaniel Pope


Nathaniel W. Pope was an American government leader in the early history of the State of Illinois. He served as the Secretary of the Illinois Territory, then as a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Illinois Territory, and for over thirty years as the United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Illinois.

Education and career

Born on January 5, 1784, in Louisville, District of Kentucky, Virginia, Pope attended Transylvania University and read law in 1804. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Ste. Genevieve, Louisiana Territory and Kaskaskia, Indiana Territory from 1804 to 1809. He was appointed Secretary of the Illinois Territory by President James Madison, serving from 1809 to 1816. He was acting Governor of the Illinois Territory in 1809. He was an Illinois Territorial Militia officer in 1812. Pope was a Democratic-Republican

Congressional service

Pope was elected on September 5, 1816, as a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives for a term of two years, serving in the 15th United States Congress from March 4, 1817 to November 30, 1818. He was a register for the United States Land Office in Edwardsville, Illinois Territory from November 30, 1818 to March 3, 1819.

Notable legislation

Pope was instrumental both in securing the new territory's admission as the 21st State on December 3, 1818 as well as in adjusting the new state's northern boundary from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan extending it north to the 42° 30' parallel. Adding the land now included in the thirteen northern counties became very important for Illinois' development, because it included what was to become its largest city, although it also retarded Wisconsin's qualification for admission to the Union. Furthermore, Pope drafted the statehood resolution to ensure that 2% of land sales would be used to fund roads and 3% to fund schools, unlike the previous statehood resolutions which required 5% to be used to fund roads.

Federal judicial service

Pope was nominated by President James Monroe on March 3, 1819, to the United States District Court for the District of Illinois, to a new seat authorized by 3 Stat. 502. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 3, 1819, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on January 23, 1850, due to his death in St. Louis, Missouri. He was interred in the Colonel O’Fallon Burying Ground and later reinterred at the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.

Unsuccessful campaign

Pope was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1824.

Honor

, Illinois, was named for Pope, as was the recently closed Nathaniel Pope Elementary School in North Lawndale, Chicago, Illinois.