James Biddle EUSTIS, Congress, LA (1834-1899)

EUSTIS James Biddle , a Senator from Louisiana; born in New Orleans, La., August 27, 1834; pursued classical studies; graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1854; admitted to the bar in 1856 and commenced practice in New Orleans; served as judge advocate during the Civil War in the Confederate Army; resumed the practice of law in New Orleans; elected a member of the State house of representatives prior to the reconstruction acts; one of the committee sent to Washington to confer with President Andrew Johnson on Louisiana affairs; member, State house of representatives 1872; member, State senate 1874-1878; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1873, caused by the action of the Senate in declining to seat certain claimants; service began on January 12, 1876, but was not seated until December 10, 1877, following resolution of a contest to his credentials, and served to March 3, 1879; unsuccessful candidate for reelection; professor of civil law at the University of Louisiana 1877-1884; again elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1885, to March 3, 1891; was not a candidate for reelection; practiced law in Washington, D.C., in 1891; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France 1893-1897; settled in New York City; died in Newport, R.I., on September 9, 1899; interment in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Ky.

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Biography.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present