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{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (1798–1866)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=James Semple
| image = James Semple.jpg
| jr/sr1=United States Senator
| state1=Illinois
| term1=December 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
| preceded1=[[Samuel McRoberts]]
| succeeded1=[[Stephen A. Douglas]]
| office2=[[Supreme Court of Illinois#1818–1899|Associate Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court]]
| term_start2=January 1843
| term_end2=August 1843
| preceded2=[[Sidney Breese]]
| succeeded2=[[James Shields (politician, born 1806)|James Shields]]
| office3= [[Chargé d'Affaires]] to [[Republic of the New Granada|New Granada]]
| president3=[[Martin Van Buren]] <br />[[William Henry Harrison]] <br />[[John Tyler]]
| term_start3=1838
| term_end3=1842
| predecessor3=[[Robert B. McAfee]]
| successor3=[[William M. Blackford]]
| office4=[[List of Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives|Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
| term_start4=1834
| term_end4=1837
| preceded4=[[Alexander M. Jenkins]]
| succeeded4=[[William Lee D. Ewing]]
| office5=[[Attorney General of Illinois]]
| term_start5=1832
| term_end5=1834
| governor5=[[John Reynolds (Illinois politician)|John Reynolds]]
| predecessor5=[[George Forquer]]
| successor5=[[Ninian Wirt Edwards]]
| office6=Member of [[Illinois House of Representatives]]
| term6=1834–1837
| term7=1828–1832
| birth_date={{birth date|1798|1|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place=[[Green County, Kentucky]]
| death_date={{death date and age|1866|12|20|1798|1|5|mf=y}}
| death_place=[[Elsah, Illinois]]
| children=[[Eugene Semple]] and others
| relations=[[Lansing B. Mizner]] (stepson)<br />[[Addison Mizner]] (step-grandson)<br />[[Wilson Mizner]] (step-grandson)
| profession=Attorney<br />businessman
| party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| allegiance=United States
| branch=[[Kentucky Army National Guard|Kentucky Militia]]<br />[[Missouri Army National Guard|Missouri Militia]]<br />[[Illinois Army National Guard|Illinois Militia]]
| unit=81st Infantry Regiment (Kentucky)<br />21st Infantry Regiment (Missouri)<br />8th Infantry Regiment (Illinois)
| rank=[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]
| serviceyears=1814–1817 (Kentucky)<br />1819–1824 (Missouri)<br />1829–1834 (Illinois)
| battles=[[War of 1812]]<br />[[Black Hawk War]]
}}

'''James Semple''' (January 5, 1798 – December 20, 1866) was an American attorney and politician. He was [[List of Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives|Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives]], [[Attorney General of Illinois]], an associate justice of the [[Illinois Supreme Court]], [[Chargé d'Affaires]] to [[Republic of the New Granada|New Granada]], and [[United States Senator]] from [[Illinois]].

Semple was born in [[Green County, Kentucky]], and was raised and educated in [[Clinton County, Kentucky|Clinton County]]. He served in the [[Kentucky militia]] during the [[War of 1812]] and then moved to Missouri, where he was active in the militia and owned and operated several businesses. He later studied law in Missouri and Kentucky, attained admission to the bar, and moved to [[Edwardsville, Illinois]], to start a practice. He became active in politics as a Democrat, but was opposed to slavery, and he served in the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] from 1828 to 1832. He continued his militia service after moving to Illinois, and took part in the [[Black Hawk War]]. After service as [[Illinois Attorney General]] from 1832 to 1834, Semple returned to the Illinois House, where he served as Speaker from 1834 to 1837.

From 1838 to 1842, Semple served as US [[Chargé d'Affaires]] in [[Republic of the New Granada|New Granada]]. Upon returning to Illinois, he was appointed an associate justice of the [[Illinois Supreme Court]], but he served only a few months because later that year he was selected to fill a vacancy in the US Senate, where he served from 1843 to 1847.

After leaving politics, Semple practiced law, was active in several business ventures, and attempted to market an invention called the prairie car, a forerunner of the modern automobile. He died in [[Elsah, Illinois]], a town he founded, and was buried at [[Bellefontaine Cemetery]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]].

==Early life==
James Semple was born in [[Green County, Kentucky]], on January 5, 1798, the son of John Walker Semple and Lucy (Robertson) Semple.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Semple's grandfather Robert Semple served in the Virginia legislature, and his father served in the legislature of Kentucky.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} James Semple was raised on his father's [[Clinton County, Kentucky|Clinton County]] homestead, which John Sample named "76".{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He received his early education from his mother, a talented woman educated enough to argue cases in court when no lawyers were available, and was tutored by his uncle Isaac Robertson, who was a graduate of [[Princeton University|Princeton College]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

==Start of career==
In 1814, the sixteen-year-old Semple volunteered for the [[Kentucky Army National Guard|Kentucky Militia]] during the [[War of 1812]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}  He served until the end war, and in 1817 received a commission as an ensign in Kentucky's 81st Militia Regiment.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

In 1818, Semple moved to [[Edwardsville, Illinois]], but he remained for only nine months before returning to Kentucky.  In 1819, he moved to [[Chariton, Missouri]], where he operated a tannery and became active in other business ventures.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} In addition, he joined the Missouri Militia's 21st Infantry Regiment, which he later commanded with the rank of [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]].  Soon after arriving in Chariton, Semple was elected a state Loan Commissioner.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} In response to the [[Panic of 1819]], Missouri's government authorized the issuing of paper money that could be loaned to farmers so that they wouldn't lose their land during the economic downturn.{{sfn|''Encyclopedia of American Recessions and Depressions''|page=718}} Loan Office Banks throughout the state were supervised by commissioners who loaned the money, ensured it was repaid, and instituted foreclosure proceedings and auctions for farmers who defaulted on their loans.{{sfn|''Encyclopedia of American Recessions and Depressions''|page=718}}

After the sudden death of his first wife in 1821, Semple decided on a career as an attorney and began to [[reading law|study law]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He moved to [[Louisville, Kentucky]], in 1824 to continue his studies, and after three years of learning he was admitted to the bar and returned to Edwardsville in 1827 to start a law practice.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

==Continued career==
Semple practiced law in Edwardsville and became active in politics.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Though he opposed slavery, he became a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], and advocated abolition in opposition to most members of his party, who either supported slavery or accepted that it could continue where it already existed.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} During the [[Black Hawk War]] of 1832, Semple was appointed [[adjutant]] of the Illinois Militia's 8th Infantry Regiment, then adjutant of a newly organized mounted regiment, and then [[aide-de-camp]] to Brigadier General [[Samuel Whiteside]] and judge advocate of Whiteside's brigade.{{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}} Semple later commanded the 8th Regiment as a colonel, and subsequently attained the rank of brigadier general.{{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}}

In 1828, Semple was elected to the [[Illinois House of Representatives]], and he served until 1832.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He served as [[Illinois Attorney General]] from 1832 to 1834, and did not run for reelection, preferring instead to become a candidate for the Illinois House.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He won a House seat and was chosen to serve as [[List of Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]], a post he held until 1837.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} In 1836, Semple was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} In addition to practicing law, he became involved in business ventures including real estate speculation, and was one of the founders of the town of [[Highland, Illinois|Highland]] and the villages of [[Tamaroa, Illinois|Tamaroa]] and [[Marine, Illinois | Marine]]. {{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} In 1837, he moved to [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]], where he continued to practice law.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

==Diplomat==
In 1837, President [[Martin Van Buren]] appointed Semple as [[Chargé d'Affaires]] in [[Republic of the New Granada|New Granada]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Semple had not sought the appointment, but decided to accept.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served from October 14, 1837, until resigning on March 4, 1842.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

As Chargé, Semple was empowered to act as a [[Envoy (title)|minister]], and was commended by New Granada's government and members of the various groups opposed to it for the tact and fairness with which he advocated for U.S. interests without showing favoritism.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

==U.S. Senator==
On January 6, 1843, Semple was appointed an associate justice of the [[Illinois Supreme Court]], filling the vacancy left when [[Sidney Breese]] resigned to accept election to the U.S. Senate.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He served until August 16, 1843, and was succeeded by [[James Shields (politician, born 1806)|James Shields]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Semple left the court to accept election to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of [[Samuel McRoberts]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He served the remainder of the term to which Roberts had been elected, August 16, 1843, to March 3, 1847, and was not a candidate for reelection in 1846.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

In the Senate, Semple was concerned primarily with resolving the [[Oregon boundary dispute]], which was ended by passage of the [[Oregon Treaty]] in 1846.  Semple also proposed reform of the U.S. consular system.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Consular appointments were patronage positions, and most incumbents received no salary, but were compensated by the fees they were allowed to charge for notarizing travel documents, verifying the passenger manifests of arriving U.S. ships, and verifying the contents of arriving U.S. cargo ships.{{sfn|''Intercourse with Foreign Nations''|page=115}} Semple introduced a bill that would have professionalized the consular corps and provided for the payment of salaries in lieu of fees, but it was not adopted during his time in the Senate.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

At the outbreak of the [[Mexican–American War]], Semple sought an Army commission as commander of a regiment or brigade, but was refused by President [[James K. Polk]], who was unhappy that Semple disagreed with the results of the Polk administration's negotiations over Oregon. {{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}}

==Later life==
In 1845, Semple began work on a vehicle he called a prairie car, a forerunner of the automobile.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Semple's prairie car was a wagon fitted with a steam engine and wide tires that enabled it to run on roads or rough terrain.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He attracted investors in the project, formed a corporation and issued stock, but abandoned the effort when manufacturers proved unable to provide the needed parts, and mechanics proved unable to purchase or make the tools necessary to effect repairs on his prototype.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} Semple left his prototype in a field outside [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], where for many years it was pointed out to newcomers to town as "Semple's Folly".{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

After leaving the Senate in 1847, Semple resumed practicing law in Alton.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He was also a participant in several businesses, including investing in land north of Alton where he laid out a community known as Sempletown.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} This enterprise did not succeed, and Semple decided to leave Alton.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} He purchased an estate in [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey County]], where in 1853 he founded the town of [[Elsah, Illinois]], and owned businesses including a mill and a distillery.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}{{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}} In retirement, he served as Elsah's postmaster and worked on a history of Mexico, Central America and South America, but his manuscript was never published.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}{{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}} During the [[American Civil War]], Semple was sympathetic to the states' rights arguments of the [[Confederate State of America|Confederacy]], but remained loyal to the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] and supported measures including loyalty oaths.{{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}}

==Death and burial==
James Semple died in Elsah on December 20, 1866, and was buried at [[Bellefontaine Cemetery]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]].{{sfn|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"|page=3}}

==Family==
In 1819, Semple married Ellen Duff Green, a niece of [[Duff Green]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} She died in 1821, and in 1833 Semple married Mary Stevenson Mizner, a daughter of Dr. Caldwell Cairns and Mary (Stevenson) Cairns, and the widow of Henry Mizner.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

Semple's stepson, [[Lansing B. Mizner]] was an American politician and diplomat who served as U.S. Minister to several Central American countries.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} His step-grandson [[Addison Mizner]] was a well-known architect, and step-grandson [[Wilson Mizner]] was a famous playwright.

[[Eugene Semple]], the son of James and Mary Semple, served as [[List of Governors of Washington#Governors of the Territory of Washington|Governor of Washington Territory]] from 1887 to 1889.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} His daughter Lucy Virginia became the wife of wealthy St. Louis businessman Edgar Ames.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} After his death, Lucy Ames expanded her husband's business holdings and added to his fortune, and became prominent as an advocate for political causes including women's suffrage and higher education for women.{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}} His daughter Julia was the wife of Ashley D. Scott, who operated a successful grocery wholesale business in St. Louis and a founder of the [[Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm]] and organizer of the [[Veiled Prophet Ball]].{{sfn|Biography: General James Semple|pages=62–74}}

Dr. Robert Semple, a brother of James Semple, was a founder of [[Benicia, California]], and president of California's [[California Constitutional Conventions#Monterey Convention of 1849|1849 constitutional convention]].{{sfn|"Robert Baylor Semple, Pioneer"|pages=130–131}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
===Magazines===
* {{cite magazine |last=Cushman |first=Mary Semple Ames |year=1910 |title=Biography: General James Semple |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiuo.ark:/13960/t4rj4gw63;view=2up;seq=86;size=200 |magazine=Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society |volume=10 |location=Springfield, IL |ref={{sfnRef|Biography: General James Semple}}}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Force |first=Peter |year=1834 |title=Intercourse with Foreign Nations |volume=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GkxTAAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA115 |magazine=The National Calendar, and Annals of the United States |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Pishey Thompson and Franck Taylor |ref={{sfnRef|''Intercourse with Foreign Nations''}}}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Radcliffe |first=Zoe Greene |date=June 1, 1927 |title=Robert Baylor Semple, Pioneer |url=http://ch.ucpress.edu/content/6/2/13 |magazine=California Historical Society Quarterly |location=Sacramento, CA |publisher=California Historical Society |ref={{sfnRef|"Robert Baylor Semple, Pioneer"}} }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=John W. |date=Fall 2003 |title=James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur |url=https://archive.org/details/elsahhistory86unse/page/2 |magazine=Elsah History |location=Elsah, IL |publisher=Historic Elsah Foundation |ref={{sfnRef|"James Semple: Founder of Elsah and Political Entrepreneur"}}}}

===Books===
* {{cite book |last=Leab |first=Daniel |date=2014 |title=Encyclopedia of American Recessions and Depressions |volume=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qI6dAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA718 |location=Santa Barbara, CA |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-946-2 |ref={{sfnRef|''Encyclopedia of American Recessions and Depressions''}}}}

==External links==
{{CongBio|S000239}}
* {{Find a Grave|22851}}
* [http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/JusticeArchive/Bio_Semple.asp James Semple] at Illinois Courts.gov

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{U.S. Senator box
| state=Illinois
| class=2
| before=[[Samuel McRoberts]]
| after=[[Stephen A. Douglas]]
| alongside=[[Sidney Breese]]
| years=1843–1847
}}
{{s-dip}}
{{succession box
 | title  = [[United States Ambassador to Colombia|United States Chargé d'Affaires, New Granada]]
 | before = [[Robert B. McAfee]]
 | after  = [[William M. Blackford]]
 | years  = April 21, 1838 – March 4, 1842
}}
{{end}}

{{USSenIL}}
{{ILAttorneyGeneral}}
{{Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives}}
{{US Ambassadors to Colombia}}
{{Black Hawk War (1832)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Semple, James}}
[[Category:1798 births]]
[[Category:1866 deaths]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Illinois attorneys general]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Jersey County, Illinois]]
[[Category:19th-century American diplomats]]
[[Category:American people of the Black Hawk War]]
[[Category:Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court]]
[[Category:People from Green County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Burials at Bellefontaine Cemetery]]
[[Category:American expatriates in Colombia]]
[[Category:Kentucky militia]]
[[Category:19th-century American legislators]]
[[Category:19th-century American judges]]
[[Category:19th-century Illinois politicians]]