James Meriwether

Who was James Meriwether?

James Meriwether was a United States Representative and lawyer from Georgia. His father was David Meriwether and his nephew was James Archibald Meriwether.

Meriwether was born near Washington, Georgia, in 1789 and graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1807 and was a tutor at the University for a year. After studying law in Elberton, Georgia and gaining admittance to the state bar, he practiced law for a short time and then focused on farming. From 1811 to 1813, he was judge of the inferior court of Clarke County, Georgia. In 1813, Meriwether fought in the Creek War under the command of General John Floyd. Meriwether served as a trustee of UGA from 1816 until 1831.

From 1821 to 1823, Meriwether served in the Georgia House of Representatives as a representative of Clarke County. President James Monroe appointed Meriwether as a commissioner to negotiate with the Creek in 1823. In 1824, he was elected as a Jacksonian Representative to the 19th United States Congress and served one term from March 4, 1825 until March 3, 1827, as he did not seek reelection in 1826. He returned to his farming and died while on a trip near Memphis, Tennessee, in 1854. He was buried at his family plantation in Clarke County.