James Caldwell (July 4, 1763–1840) was the first Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.
Caldwell was born in Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War he served under Archibald Woods and Thomas Wright. In moved Lincoln County, Kentucky where he served under William Whitley in the American Indian Wars.
In 1786 he married Meeke Perrin in Lincoln County. He served in the Kentucky General Assembly from Harrison County, Kentucky from 1800 to 1807.
In 1810 he moved to Libertyville, Missouri (five miles southeast of Farmington, Missouri in Saint Francois County, Missouri -- although it was part of Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri at the time).
He was elected to the Missouri Territorial Legislature (where he served with his half brother Kinkhead) and the first Missouri House of Representatives in 1820 and was named the Speaker.
In 1822 he was elected to the Missouri State Senate but lost re-election in 1824 to his son-in-law James Kerr
Famous quotes containing the words james and/or caldwell:
“When the Revolutionaries ran short of gun wadding the Rev. James Caldwell ... broke open the church doors and seized an armful of Watts’ hymnbooks. The preacher threw them to the soldiers and shouted, “Give ‘em Watts, boys—give ‘em Watts!””
—For the State of New Jersey, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“The academic expectations for a child just beginning school are minimal. You want your child to come to preschool feeling happy, reasonably secure, and eager to explore and learn.”
—Bettye M. Caldwell (20th century)