James Shields (politician, born 1806)

James Shields
United States Senator
from Missouri
In office
January 27, 1879 – March 3, 1879
Preceded byDavid H. Armstrong
Succeeded byGeorge Graham Vest
United States Senator
from Minnesota
In office
May 11, 1858 – March 3, 1859
Preceded byHimself (Shadow Senator)
Succeeded byMorton S. Wilkinson
United States Shadow Senator
from the Minnesota Territory
In office
December 19, 1857 – May 11, 1858
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded byHimself (U.S. Senator)
United States Senator
from Illinois
In office
October 27, 1849 – March 3, 1855
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byLyman Trumbull
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 15, 1849[a]
Preceded bySidney Breese
Succeeded byHimself
Commissioner of the General Land Office
In office
April 16, 1845 – January 5, 1847
PresidentJames K. Polk
Preceded byThomas H. Blake
Succeeded byRichard M. Young
Auditor of Illinois
In office
1841–1843
GovernorThomas Carlin
Thomas Ford
Preceded byLevi Davis
Succeeded byWilliam Lee D. Ewing
Personal details
Born(1806-05-10)May 10, 1806
Altmore, Ireland, United Kingdom
DiedJune 1, 1879(1879-06-01) (aged 73)
Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Glasgow (BA)
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1832
1835–1842
1846–1848
1861–1862
Rank Brigadier general
Battles/warsSecond Seminole War
Mexican–American War
American Civil War

James Shields (May 10, 1806[b] – June 1, 1879) was an Irish American politician and United States Army officer, who is the only person in U.S. history to serve as a Senator for three different states, and one of only two to represent multiple states in the U.S. Senate. A member of the Democratic Party, Shields represented Illinois from 1849 to 1855, in the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd Congresses, Minnesota from 1858 to 1859, in the 35th Congress, and Missouri in 1879, in the 45th Congress.

Born and initially educated in Ireland, Shields emigrated to the Americas in 1826. He was briefly a sailor, and spent time in Quebec, before settling in Kaskaskia, Illinois, where he studied and practiced law. In 1836, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, and later as State Auditor. His work as auditor was criticized by a young Abraham Lincoln, who (with his then fiancée, Mary Todd) published a series of inflammatory pseudonymous letters in a local paper. Shields challenged Lincoln to a duel, and the two nearly fought on September 22, 1842, before making peace, and eventually becoming friends.

In 1845, Shields was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court, from which he resigned to become Commissioner of the U.S. United States General Land Office. At the outbreak of the Mexican–American War, he left the Land Office to take an appointment as brigadier general of volunteers. He served with distinction and was twice wounded. In 1848, Shields was appointed to and confirmed by the Senate as the first governor of the Oregon Territory, which he declined. After serving as Senator from Illinois, he moved to Minnesota and founded the town of Shieldsville there. He was then elected as Senator from Minnesota. He served in the American Civil War, and at the Battle of Kernstown, his troops inflicted the only tactical defeat of Stonewall Jackson in the war. Shields resigned his commission shortly thereafter. After moving multiple times, Shields settled in Missouri and served again for three months in the Senate. He died in 1879 and represents Illinois in the National Statuary Hall.


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  1. ^ Tucker, Spencer C. (September 30, 2013). American Civil War: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection [6 volumes]: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection. ABC-CLIO. p. 1777. ISBN 9781851096824. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "James Shields – Previous Illinois Supreme Court Justice". Illinois Courts. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "James Shields". Architect of the Capitol: United States Capitol. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "James Shields, 1810–1879, bust portrait, facing left". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 16, 2018.