James Shields (politician, born 1806)

James Shields
United States Senator from Missouri
In office January 27, 1879 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	David H. Armstrong
Succeeded by	George Graham Vest
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office May 11, 1858 – March 3, 1859
Preceded by	Himself (Shadow Senator)
Succeeded by	Morton S. Wilkinson
United States Shadow Senator from the Minnesota Territory
In office December 19, 1857 – May 11, 1858
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Himself (U.S. Senator)
United States Senator from Illinois
In office October 27, 1849 – March 3, 1855
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Lyman Trumbull
In office March 4, 1849 – March 15, 1849[a]
Preceded by	Sidney Breese
Succeeded by	Himself
Commissioner of the General Land Office
In office April 16, 1845 – January 5, 1847
President	James K. Polk
Preceded by	Thomas H. Blake
Succeeded by	Richard M. Young
Auditor of Illinois
In office 1841–1843
Governor	Thomas Carlin Thomas Ford
Preceded by	Levi Davis
Succeeded by	William Lee D. Ewing
Personal details
Born	(1806-05-10)May 10, 1806 Altmore, Ireland, United Kingdom
Died	June 1, 1879(1879-06-01) (aged 73) Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Glasgow (BA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1832 1835–1842 1846–1848 1861–1862
Rank	Brigadier general
Battles/wars	Second 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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