James Chesnut Jr. (Congressional Biographical Directory)

CHESNUT, James, Jr., a Senator from South Carolina; born near Camden, S.C., January 18, 1815; graduated from the law department of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1837; admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Camden, S.C.; member, State house of representatives 1842-1854; delegate to the southern convention at Nashville in 1850; served in the State senate 1854-1858; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Josiah J. Evans and served from December 3, 1858, until November 10, 1860, when he withdrew; expelled from the Senate in 1861 for support of the rebellion; delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress in 1861; during the Civil War served as colonel in the Confederate Army; appointed brigadier general in 1864; resumed the practice of law in Camden, Kershaw County, S.C., and died there on February 1, 1885; interment in Knights Hill Cemetery, near Camden, S.C.