John J. Pettus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John J. Pettus
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Portrait by Alexander Alaux, 1907 (Mississippi Department of Archives and History)
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| 23rd Governor of Mississippi | |
| In office November 21, 1859 – November 16, 1863 |
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| Preceded by | William McWillie |
| Succeeded by | Charles Clark |
| President of the Mississippi Senate | |
| In office 1854–1857 |
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| Preceded by | Unknown |
| Succeeded by | Unknown |
| Governor of Mississippi Acting |
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| In office January 5, 1854 – January 10, 1854 |
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| Preceded by | Henry S. Foote |
| Succeeded by | John J. McRae |
| Member of the Mississippi Senate from Neshoba and Kemper counties |
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| In office 1848–1857 |
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| Preceded by | Emanuel Durr |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Enloe |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from Kemper County |
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| In office 1844–1847 Serving with Lewis Stovall 1844–1845
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| Preceded by | Vacant |
| Succeeded by | Oswell Neely, Lumpkin Garrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Jones Pettus
October 9, 1813 Wilson County, Tennessee, United States |
| Died | January 25, 1867 (aged 53) Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Resting place | Flat Bayou Cemetery, Jefferson County, Arkansas 34°21′30.3″N 91°52′09.5″W / 34.358417°N 91.869306°W |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Permelia Virginia Winston
(m. 1837; died 1857)Susan Hewell
(m. 1861) |
| Relations | Edmund Pettus (brother) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Branch |  Mississippi Militia |
| Years of service | 1864–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Wars | American Civil War |
John Jones Pettus (October 9, 1813 – January 25, 1867) was an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 23rd Governor of Mississippi from 1859 to 1863. Before becoming governor, he was a state representative and a member and president of the Mississippi Senate. Pettus was a member of the Democratic Party. He strongly supported Mississippi's decision to leave the Union in 1861. He also worked closely with the Confederate States Government.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Jones Pettus was born on October 9, 1813. His birthplace was Wilson County, Tennessee. His parents were John Jones and Alice Taylor Pettus. He was the brother of Edmund Pettus. When he was young, his family moved to Limestone County, Alabama.
Pettus was only nine years old when his father passed away. His mother taught him at home. He also helped with chores around the farm. In 1835, Pettus moved to Mississippi. He briefly studied law in Alabama. Later, he opened his own law practice in Scooba, Mississippi. In the 1840s, he married Permelia Winston. He also became a successful farmer. By 1850, he owned a large farm and had many enslaved people working there.
Political Career in Mississippi
Pettus began his political journey in 1844. He represented Kemper County in the Mississippi House of Representatives. In 1848, he was elected to the Mississippi State Senate.
Brief Time as Acting Governor
In 1854, Pettus briefly served as acting governor. The governor at the time, Henry S. Foote, resigned. This happened just before the new governor, John J. McRae, was to take office. The Mississippi Constitution of 1832 had removed the role of lieutenant governor. Because Pettus was the President of the Mississippi Senate, he was next in line. He became governor on January 7, 1854. He held the position for only a few days. His main action was to call for a special election. He returned to his role as Senate President when McRae became governor on January 10.
Supporting Secession
During the 1850s, Pettus became known as a "Mississippi Fire-eater." This term described Southerners who strongly supported states' rights. They also believed states should be able to leave the Union.
In 1859, Pettus was elected Governor of Mississippi. In his first speech as governor, he spoke about slavery. He said that the only way for the Southern states to keep slavery was to leave the Union. He also called for the creation of a Southern confederacy.
After Abraham Lincoln was elected President, Pettus acted quickly. On November 26, 1860, he called a special meeting of the Legislature. He urged them to hold a convention. This convention would decide if Mississippi should leave the Union. The convention met in Jackson on January 7, 1861. Two days later, Mississippi officially seceded from the Union. On February 4, 1861, the Confederate States of America was formed. This new country included Mississippi and five other slave states. Pettus was re-elected as governor in the fall of 1861. Charles Clark later took over as governor.
Later Life and Death
The Mississippi Constitution did not allow Pettus to run for a third term as governor. After his time as governor, he became a colonel in the state militia. In September 1865, he swore an oath of allegiance to the United States government. However, he was not granted a presidential pardon.
After the Civil War, Pettus moved to Pulaski County, Arkansas. This area is now Lonoke County. John J. Pettus died on January 25, 1867. He passed away from pneumonia. He is buried in the Flat Bayou Cemetery in Jefferson County, Arkansas.
See also
- List of governors of Mississippi
- List of lieutenant governors of Mississippi
- List of people from Tennessee
- List of pneumonia deaths
- List of slave owners
