James Pearce | |
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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 Chestertown, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 57)
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 | |
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.[1] 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.[2]