Jesse D. Bright

Quill platform ID: p15920.

(18 December, 1812 -- 20 May, 1875) Bright was an American lawyer and politician. Born in Norwich, New York, Bright moved to Indiana in 1820 eventually studying law being admitted to the bar in 1831. Bright served many roles in local government: Judge of probate court of Jefferson County (1834), Marshal for the District of Indiana (1840), State Senator (1841-1843), and Lieutenant Governor of Indiana (1843-1845). Bright was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1845, was reelected in 1850 and 1856, serving from March 4th, 1845 to February 5th, 1862. In 1862, Bright was expelled from the Senate for support of the rebellion. After failing to be reelected (for the vacant seat opened by his expulsion), Bright moved to Kentucky and served in local government before moving again to Maryland. Bright died in Baltimore in 1875. [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774- Present', available at http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp]

Member of Indiana Delegation—The Road to Civil War.

Resources (0):

Resource Collections (0):

None

Resource Items (0):

None