James McCauley
{{short description|American politician and judge (1809–1897)}}
{{about||the minister and president of Dickinson College|James Andrew McCauley|the baseball player|Jim McCauley}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = James McCauley
| image = James McCauley (1897).png
| alt =
| caption = Sketch of McCauley in 1897 newspaper
| state_delegate = Maryland
| district = Cecil County
| term_start = 1865
| term_end = 1866
| predecessor =
| successor =
| alongside = Jesse Allen Kirk, Jethro J. McCullough, George B. Pennington
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1809|8|23}}
| birth_place = Cecil County, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1897|1|25|1809|8|23}}
| death_place = Leeds, Maryland, U.S.
| resting_place =
| party =
| spouse = {{marriage|Sarah Beard|1834|1846|reason=died}}
{{marriage|Millicent Price|1849}}
| children = 8
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|judge|engineer}}
| signature =
}}
James McCauley (August 23, 1809 – January 25, 1897) was an American politician and judge from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County, from 1865 to 1866.
Early life
James McCauley was born on August 23, 1809, at an old stone house called Lowry's on Van Bibber's Forrest near Mechanics' Valley in Cecil County, Maryland, to Elizabeth (née McCauley) and John McCauley. His mother and father were first cousins.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/portraitbiograph00chap_5/page/n687/mode/2up |title=Portrait and Biographical Record of Harford and Cecil Counties, Maryland |year=1897 |pages=409–410 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-18}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-midland-journal-death-of-james-mccau/127229610/ |title=Death of James McCauley |date=1897-01-29 |newspaper=The Midland Journal |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-28}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cecil-whig-james-mccauley-30-jan-18/127230271/ |title=James McCauley |date=1897-01-30 |newspaper=Cecil Whig |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-06-28}}{{Open access}} He was the first cousin of James A. McCauley, president of Dickinson College and Methodist Episcopal minister. McCauley received his early education at Maffit's schoolhouse and took grammar lessons with Dr. Cleveland in North East. He became a surveyor and also learned the trade of a cooper, but did not pursue it for long.
Career
In 1830, McCauley worked for a short time with the U.S. Corps of Engineers on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Sykesville. In 1833, McCauley manufactured portable four-horse threshing machines in Cecil County. McCauley wrote Field Books of Surveys in Cecil County, compiling plats and surveys within Cecil County. He also contributed poetry to county newspapers.
In 1841, Governor Thomas Pratt appointed McCauley as county surveyor. In 1857, McCauley was elected as register of wills and served in that role for six years. During the Civil War, McCauley supported the Union side.
McCauley served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County, from 1865 to 1866. He served as chairman of the education committee. McCauley was a supporter of the temperance movement and helped pass legislation for closing drinking places on election days.{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/house/html/cehouse.html |title=Historical List, House of Delegates, Cecil County (1790-1974) |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=2000-02-01 |access-date=2023-06-28}}
In 1868, McCauley was appointed as school commissioner of the third district and served as president of the board until December 1868. In December 1868, McCauley was appointed by Governor Thomas Swann as chief judge of the Orphans' Court, replacing Levi H. Evans. He was then elected to six consecutive terms. His last term expired in November 1895.
Personal life
On November 27, 1834, McCauley married Sarah Warrington Beard. They had five children, twins Elizabeth and Mary, John, Rachel and Hannah Louise. His wife died in 1846. In 1849, McCauley married Millicent K. Price of Sassafras Neck. They had three children, Helen A., James J. and Hattie S. His son John served as a first lieutenant in the Union Army during the Civil War. McCauley was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church in Leeds.
McCauley died of pneumonia on January 25, 1897, at his home near Leeds.
References
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External links
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Category:People from Cecil County, Maryland
Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel
Category:Members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Category:Maryland state court judges
Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Maryland
Category:19th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly