Biography

Mentioned in 18480210FMS_AHS1, visiting Albany. Mexican War Brigadier General, US Congressman. He arrived in Natchez in 1821 to practice law. He was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1826 and state Senate in 1835 and then as Governor from 1835 to 1836. He served as a State court judge in 1838. During the Mexican War Quitman was appointed a brigadier general of Volunteers in 1846 and later commissioned a major general in the Regular Army in 1847. He was governor of Mexico City during the American occupation from 1847 to 1848. After leaving the Army in 1848 he again served as governor from 1850 to 1851, but was forced to resign after a federal indictment accused him of aiding a filibustering expedition to Cuba. Nevertheless, he was elected a U. S. Representative in 1855. He served in that office until his death on his plantation, "Monmouth," near Natchez presumably from the effects of "National Hotel disease" contracted in Washington, D.C., during the inauguration of President Buchanan. There is a cenotaph for him at Congressional Cemetery.