Robert B. F. Peirce Explained

Robert Peirce
State:Indiana
Term Start:March 4, 1881
Term End:March 3, 1883
Predecessor:Abraham J. Hostetler
Successor:John E. Lamb
Birth Date:17 February 1843
Birth Place:Laurel, Indiana, U.S.
Death Place:Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S
Education:Wabash College
Branch:U.S. Army (Union Army)
Commands:
  • Company H
  • One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment
  • Indiana Volunteers
Battles:

Robert Bruce Fraser Peirce (February 17, 1843 – December 5, 1898) was an American lawyer, Civil War veteran and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1881 to 1883.

Early life and career

Born in Laurel, Indiana, Peirce attended the public schools and was also educated by private tutors.

Civil War

He served in the Civil War as second lieutenant of Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers.

Legal career

He graduated from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1866 and studied law at Shelbyville, Indiana. He was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced practice in Crawfordsville in 1867.

Congress

Peirce was elected prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County in 1868 and reelected in 1870 and 1872. He was then elected as a Republican to the Forty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the Forty-eighth Congress.

Later career and death

He resumed the practice of law, and was appointed receiver for the Toledo, St. Louis and Western Railroad.

He died in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Indiana.