James O. Law
{{short description|American politician and merchant (1809–1847)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = James Owen Law
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| order = 13th
| office = Mayor of Baltimore
| term_start = 1843
| term_end = 1844
| predecessor = Solomon Hillen
| successor = Jacob G. Davies
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1809|3|14}}
| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1847|6|6|1809|3|14}}
| death_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| resting_place = Green Mount Cemetery
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| party = Whig
| spouse = {{marriage|Louisa Douglass|1836}}
| children = 4
| relations = Jacob G. Davies (cousin)
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|merchant}}
| signature =
| branch = Maryland Volunteers Infantry
| unit = Fifty-third Regiment
| battles =
| rank = Major
| serviceyears =
}}
James Owen Law (March 14, 1809 – June 6, 1847) was an American politician and merchant. He served as Mayor of Baltimore from 1843 to 1844.
Early life
James Owen Law{{cite book|publisher=James H. Lamb Company|title=Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States|year=1900|url={{Google books|aidAAAAAYAAJ|page=633|plainurl=yes}}|page=633|access-date=2022-08-09}} was born on March 14, 1809, in Baltimore, Maryland to Elizabeth (née Davies) (1774–1838) and James Law (1768–1830). His parents were Presbyterian Irish immigrants. His father was from Bally Shannon in County Donegal.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict0000unse_r8s1 |title=Biographical dictionary of American mayors, 1820–1980 |year=1981 |pages=210–211 |isbn=9780313211348 |access-date=2022-08-07 |last1=Holli |first1=Melvin G. |last2=Jones |first2=Peter D. A. }} He received a classical education and worked at a counting house owned by his cousin Jacob G. Davies.
Career
Law entered business on his own and became a Baltimore merchant. He was a member of the Independent Greys. In 1837, he was elected captain of the company. In 1842, Law was elected a major in the Fifty-third Regiment of the Maryland Volunteers Infantry. He held this role until his death.{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012400/012472/html/12472bio.html |title=James O. Law (1809–1847) |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=2002-05-20 |access-date=2022-08-09}} Law became president of the Independent Fire Company in 1845.{{cite book|last=Scharf|first=John Thomas|title=History of Baltimore City and County, from the Earliest Period to the Present Day|year=1881|url={{Google books|6tF4AAAAMAAJ|page=247|plainurl=yes}}|pages=247–249|access-date=2022-08-09}}
After Solomon Hillen resigned as Mayor of Baltimore in fall of 1843, Law, the Whig candidate, was elected in a special election to replace him. He defeated Democratic candidate William H. Marriott by 332 votes. His term was short-lived, as he was defeated in the following election in October 1844, by his cousin, Jacob G. Davies, a Democrat, by a margin of 498 votes. His last day in office was November 4, 1844.
After being mayor, Law was appointed the state flour inspector. He held this role until his death.
Personal life
Law married Louisa Douglass of Alexandria, Virginia on January 21, 1836. They had four children.
Law died of typhus (or ship fever) on June 6, 1847, after ministering to sick Irish children in Canton, Maryland. He died at his home on West Lombard Street in Baltimore.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107248790/death-of-major-james-o-law-8-jun/ |title=Death of Major James O. Law |date=1847-06-08 |newspaper=Alexandria Gazette |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-08-09}}{{Open access}} Law was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107248852/death-of-major-james-o-law-7-jun/ |title=Death of James O. Law |date=1847-06-07 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-08-09}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107248909/the-remains-of-major-law-22-jun-1847/ |title=The Remains of Major Law |date=1847-06-22 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-08-09}}{{Open access}}
Legacy
References
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{{succession box | before = Solomon Hillen | title = Mayor of Baltimore | years = 1843–1844 | after = Jacob G. Davies}}
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{{BaltimoreMayors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Law, James O.}}