James G. Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Field
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| Attorney General of Virginia | |
| In office August 29, 1877 – January 1, 1882 |
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| Governor | James L. Kemper Frederick W. M. Holliday |
| Preceded by | Raleigh Daniel |
| Succeeded by | Frank S. Blair |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Gaven Field
February 24, 1826 Walnut, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | October 12, 1901 (aged 75) Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Populist Conservative |
| Spouses | Frances E. Cowherd Elizabeth R. Logwood |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | John Field |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861-1865 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 13th Virginia Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Cedar Creek |
James Gaven Field (born February 24, 1826 – died October 12, 1901) was an American politician. He lived in both California and Virginia. Besides being a politician, he was also a businessman, a government clerk, and a major in the Confederate Army. He became the Attorney General of Virginia. He was also a candidate for Vice President with the Populist Party during the 1892 presidential election.
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Early Life and Family
James Gaven Field was born in a place called Walnut, in Culpeper County, Virginia. His parents were Judge Lewis Yancy Field and Maria Duncan. He went to a private school. After school, he worked as a merchant and also taught.
On June 20, 1854, James married Frances E. Cowherd. They were married until she passed away in April 1877. They had four children: William, Mard, James Jr., and Maxy. Later, on February 2, 1882, he married Elizabeth R. Logwood.
A Career in Law and Politics
In 1848, Field traveled to California. He worked there as a clerk for the U.S. Army. He also became the secretary for a meeting that created California's first state constitution in 1850.
In October 1850, Field returned to Virginia. He studied law with his uncle, Judge Richard H. Field. He became a lawyer in 1852. In 1859, he was chosen as the prosecutor for Culpeper County. Records from 1860 show that Field owned six enslaved people. This was a common practice in the Southern states at that time.
Serving in the Civil War
On April 17, 1861, Field left his job as prosecutor. He joined the Culpeper County minute men. He started as a private and became an officer in Virginia's 13th Infantry. He fought in the Battle of Harpers Ferry.
He was promoted to major on March 23, 1861. Field served on the staff of General A. P. Hill. He was injured at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Later, he lost a leg at the Battle of Cedar Creek on August 9, 1862. After recovering in May 1863, Field continued to serve the Confederacy as a paymaster until April 9, 1865.
Later Political Life
After the Civil War, Field joined the Conservative Party. He became the Attorney General of Virginia in 1877. In 1879, he argued a case called Ex Parte Virginia in the U.S. Supreme Court. He tried to argue that Congress could not require Black citizens to be on trial juries. However, he did not convince the judges.
Field later moved to a farm in Albemarle County, Virginia. He still stayed active in politics.
During the 1892 presidential election, he was chosen as the Populist Party's candidate for Vice President. He ran alongside James B. Weaver, who was the presidential candidate. Field traveled and campaigned in the southern states. He supported his party's ideas for big changes. In a speech, he told people to "Read your Bibles Sunday and the Omaha platform every day in the week." Their team won five states and received over one million votes. In 1893, he supported the idea of removing President Grover Cleveland from office. He later supported William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 and 1900 elections.
Death and Legacy
James Gaven Field died in Gordonsville, Virginia. He passed away on October 12, 1901. He is buried in the Culpeper city cemetery.
