Biography

Immigrated to Savannah, GA, in 1816 with his parents, who later settled in Wilmington, NC. Moved to New Orleans in 1831, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1832, commencing his practice in New Orleans. Elected to the lower house of the state legislature in 1842 and served until 1844; member of the State constitutional convention in 1845; elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate in 1853; reelected as a Democrat in 1859 and served from March 4, 1853, to February 4, 1861, when he withdrew. Appointed Attorney General under the provisional government of the Confederate States in February 1861. Later appointed Acting Secretary of War of the Confederate States from August-November 1861, when he was reappointed as Secretary of War, which he served until February 1862. He then was appointed Secretary of State in the Cabinet of President Jefferson Davis, in which capacity he served until the end of the war. Moved to UK in 1865 at end of war. Moved to Paris in 1883 and died there.