James Diament Westcott, Jr. (May 10, 1802 - January 19, 1880) was a United States Senator from Florida. May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... --69. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville (largest metropolitan area is Miami) Governor Jeb Bush (R) Senators Bill Nelson (D) Mel Martinez (R) Official language(s) English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ...

Early life and career

Westcott was born in Alexandria, Virginia where his father, James Sr., was transitioning from newspaper publisher to politician [1]. James Jr.'s grandfather was a captain in the American Revolutionary War. When Westcott was young, his family moved to New Jersey where his father established a political career in the Assembly and as New Jersey Secretary of State from 1830 to 1840. Meanwhile, James Jr. studied law and was admitted to the bar while still in his early 20s. In 1830, he moved to the Florida Territory and was appointed territory secretary by Andrew Jackson. His duties sometimes included performing the duties of the governor when the governor was away — all while barely 30 years old. Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the west, as seen from the observation deck of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen British colonies in North America. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A bar association is a professional body of lawyers who, in some jurisdictions, are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession. ... The Florida Territory was a historic organized territory of the United States from 1822 to 1845. ... Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845), one of the founders of the Democratic Party, was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. ... A governor is also a device that regulates the speed of a machine. ...

Duel

In 1832, Westcott ran afoul of a short-tempered fellow lawyer and Kentucky native, Thomas Baltzell. Baltzell challenged Westcott to a duel and the two met near the Alabama border on September 25. When the gunfire was over, Westcott was injured but survived while Baltzell escaped unharmed and eventually became a Florida Supreme Court chief justice. The exact reason for the duel was not disclosed in official papers. [2] [3] 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Bluegrass State Other U.S. States Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) Senators Mitch McConnell (R) Jim Bunning (R) Official languages English Area 104,749 km² (37th)  - Land 102,989 km²  - Water 1,760 km² (1. ... A duel or duel of honour is a formalised type of armed combat in which two individuals participate. ... State nickname: Camellia State, The Heart of Dixie¹, Yellowhammer State Other U.S. States Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Governor Bob Riley (R) Senators Richard Shelby (R) Jeff Sessions (R) Official language(s) English Area 52,423 mi²/135,775 km² (30th)  - Land 50,750 mi²/131,442 km²  - Water... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ... The Florida Supreme Court is the highest court in the State of Florida. ...

Birth of a state

Westcott served as territory secretary and a member of the legislature until 1834 and then as Attorney General of the territory's middle district until 1836. He then returned to the legislature as part of the convention to create a U.S. state constitution. When the first Florida Constitution was completed in 1838, Westcott's signature was present (as was that of his former duel-mate, Thomas Baltzell). Seven years later, with the constitution approved, Florida was officially a state. A legislature is a governmental deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A U.S. state is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, together with the District of Columbia and Palmyra Atoll (an uninhabited incorporated unorganized territory), form the United States of America. ... The Great Seal of the State of Florida The Florida Constitution is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state. ... 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville (largest metropolitan area is Miami) Governor Jeb Bush (R) Senators Bill Nelson (D) Mel Martinez (R) Official language(s) English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ...

Senate

When Florida was admitted to the union in 1845, Westcott ran for U.S. senator and was victorious. Westcott and fellow democrat David Levy (Yulee) became the first U.S. senators from the new state of Florida. In a choice by lot, Westcott was named a Class III senator while Levy was named a Class I meaning Westcott drew the shorter term of four years. A Political Union is a type of state which is composed of smaller states. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Democratic Party, founded in 1792, is the longest-standing political party in the world. ... David Levy Yulee was the first Jewish American U.S. Senator. ... The three classes of US Senators, each currently including 33 or 34 Senators (since Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, and until another state is admitted to statehood), are a means used by the US Senate for describing the schedules of Senate seats elections, and of the expiration of...

While in the Senate, Westcott was the chairman on the Committe on Territories and the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. He did not run for re-election in 1848. 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Post-Senate

Westcott's only term ended in 1849 and, in 1850, he moved to New York City and practiced law there until 1862. In 1862, Westcott moved to Canada where he remained until his death in Montreal. 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... New York City, officially named the City of New York, is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and the largest financial center in the world. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... City motto: Concordia Salus (Latin: Well-being through harmony) Province Quebec Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area  - % water 500. ...

James Westcott's name remained in the Florida public eye as his son, also commonly referred to as James Diament Westcott, Jr., became a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Attorney General of Florida and a Florida Supreme Court Justice as well as a Captain in the Confederate States Army — all before his untimely death at age 47. The younger Westcott left most of his estate to what is now Florida State University which, in turn, eventually named its main administration building in Tallahassee in his honor. The Florida House of Representatives, one of the two Chambers of the Florida Legislature, is composed of 120 members, each representing a district. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February, 1861, to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven southern states seceded from the United States (with four more to follow). ... Florida State University State University System of Florida FAMU FAU FGCU FIU FSU NCF UCF UF UNF USF UWF Florida State University, also commonly referred to as FSU or Florida State, is a comprehensive, graduate-national research university founded and located in Tallahassee, Florida in 1851. ... Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, a state of the United States of America. ...

See also

• List of United States Senators from Florida
• U.S. Congressional Delegations from Florida

Florida was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845. ... These are tables of congressional delegations from Florida to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ...

External links

• Congressional Biography
• Famous Americans