| James Cooper | |
| Image Name: | JCooper.jpg |
| Party: | Whig |
| Education: | Mount St. Mary's University |
| Alma Mater: | Washington College |
| Jr/Sr1: | United States Senator |
| State1: | Pennsylvania |
| Term1: | March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1855 |
| Preceded1: | Simon Cameron |
| Succeeded1: | William Bigler |
| Office2: | Attorney General of Pennsylvania |
| Term Start2: | July 31, 1848 |
| Term End2: | December 30, 1848 |
| Governor2: | William F. Johnston |
| Preceded2: | Benjamin Champneys |
| Succeeded2: | Cornelius Darragh |
| Office3: | Member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 12th district |
| Term3: | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 |
| Preceded3: | Daniel Sheffer |
| Succeeded3: | Almon H. Read |
| Office4: | Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives |
| Term4: | 1840 |
| Birth Date: | 8 May 1810 |
| Birth Place: | Frederick County, Maryland, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Mount Olivet Cemetery Frederick, Maryland, U.S. |
| Spouse: | Jane Mary Miller |
| Profession: | Politician, lawyer |
| Allegiance: | United States of America Union |
| Branch: | Union Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1861–1863 |
| Rank: | Brigadier General |
| Battles: | American Civil War |
| Signature: | Signature of James Cooper (1810–1863).png |
James Cooper (May 8, 1810 – March 28, 1863) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician, who served in the United States Congress.
James Cooper was born on May 8, 1810, in Frederick County, Maryland. In 1829, he enrolled in Mount St. Mary's University, but moved to Washington College (later Washington & Jefferson College). He graduated from Washington College in 1832. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1834.[1] [2]
Cooper started practicing law in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in the office of Thaddeus Stevens.[1] [2] He was elected as a Whig to the 26th and 27th congresses; serving from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1843. In the 27th congress, he was chairman of the indian affairs committee.[2] He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1843 to 1844 and in 1846 and 1848. He was speaker of the house for one term in 1847.[1] [2] In 1848, he was attorney general of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the United States Senate; serving from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1855.[2]
When the American Civil War started, Cooper raised a brigade of volunteers in Maryland and was appointed brigadier general of volunteers in May 1861. His brigade served in Franz Sigel's division during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. In poor health, he was assigned as commandant of Camp Chase, a military staging, training and prison camp near Columbus, Ohio.[1] [2]
Copper died on March 28, 1863, at the American Hotel in Columbus. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland.[2] [3]