John A. Quitman

John Quitman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 5th district
In office March 4, 1855 – July 17, 1858
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	John McRae
10th and 16th Governor of Mississippi
In office January 10, 1850 – February 3, 1851
Preceded by	Joseph W. Matthews
Succeeded by	John Guion
In office December 3, 1835 – January 7, 1836 Acting
Preceded by	Hiram Runnels
Succeeded by	Charles Lynch
Personal details
Born	(1798-09-01)September 1, 1798 Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.
Died	July 17, 1858(1858-07-17) (aged 59) Natchez, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Whig (before 1850) Democratic (1850–1858)
Spouse	Eliza Turner
Education	Hartwick College (BA)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1846–1848
Rank	Major General
Unit	United States Volunteers
Commands	2nd Brigade, 1st Volunteer Division 4th Volunteer Division Military Governor of Mexico City
Battles/wars	Texas Revolution Mexican–American War  • Battle of Monterrey  • Siege of Vera Cruz  • Battle of Cerro Gordo  • Battle of Contreras  • Battle of Churubusco  • Battle of Chapultepec  • Battle for Mexico City

John Anthony Quitman (September 1, 1798 – July 17, 1858)^[1] was an American lawyer, politician, and soldier. As President of the Mississippi Senate, he served one month as Acting Governor of Mississippi (from December 3, 1835, to January 7, 1836) as a Whig. He was elected governor in 1849 as a Democrat, and served from January 10, 1850, until his resignation on February 3, 1851, shortly after his arrest for violating U.S. neutrality laws. He was strongly pro-slavery and a leading Fire-Eater.

According to Quitman's first biographer, John F. H. Claiborne, writing in 1860, "A more ambitious man never lived. ...He was greedy for military fame."^[2] "For Quitman, military glory and political ambition had priority over management of his three plantations and numerous slaves."^[3]