James Barbour (lawyer)

James Barbour (1775-1842) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman from Virginia. He served in various prominent roles at both the state and national levels.

Barbour was born in Barboursville, Virginia. He studied law privately and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1794. He quickly established a successful legal practice.

His political career began in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he served from 1796 to 1812, holding the position of Speaker from 1809 to 1812. He then served as the 18th Governor of Virginia from 1812 to 1814, during the War of 1812. He was a staunch advocate for states' rights.

Following his governorship, Barbour represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 1815 to 1825. In the Senate, he chaired the Committee on Foreign Relations.

He served as the United States Secretary of War under President John Quincy Adams from 1825 to 1828. He was later appointed as the United States Minister to Great Britain, serving from 1828 to 1829.

Barbour was a prominent figure in the Nullification Crisis and aligned himself with the states' rights position. He attended the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. He died in Barboursville, Virginia in 1842. He was a member of the Federalist Party early in his career and later became associated with the Democratic-Republican Party.