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John McPherson Berrien Signature

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1732

  • Staff Only

This collection consists of a single note and a photograph sketch of John McPherson Berrien, dated July 7, 1848 from Washington. The note states that Berrien complied with a request made and signed his name.

Dates

  • 1848 July 7

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

This collection consists of a single note and a photograph sketch of John McPherson Berrien, dated July 7, 1848 from Washington.

Biographical/Historical Note

John McPherson Berrien was born in Rock Hill, New Jersey on August 23, 1781. He came from a well-known and affluent family. His grandfather was a close friend and confidant of George Washington and his father served in the Revolutionary War under Lachlan McIntosh. After attending preparatory school, Berrien attended what is now Princeton University and graduated with his Bachelors of Art at the age of fifteen. After working in a law office, Berrien decided to take the Georgia bar and was admitted in 1799. He became a judge in 1810, which he served as the solicitor general of the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. When the War of 1812 escalated, Berrien became captain and eventually colonel for the state of Georgia.

Berrien served as the Senator of Georgia from 1822-1823 and then was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1825. He served in this position for three years and then was elected as Attorney General by the newly elected President Andrew Jackson. Due to a falling out, Berrien was forced to resign from his position in 1831. He returned to a private law firm in his home state of Georgia.

Berrien's first wife was Eliza (Anciaux) and the couple had nine children until her death in 1828. He then re-married Eliza (Hunter) and they had six children before she died in 1852. Berrien died on January 1, 1856.

Arrangement

This collection is in one folder.

Acquisition Note

This collection was purchased by Special Collections in 1991.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480