Biography

James Cooper graduated from Washington (now Washington and Jefferson) College in 1832, studied law, and started practicing in Gettysburg, PA. He was elected as a Whig to the 26th and 27th Congresses (March 1839-March 1843), was a chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs for the 27th Congress, a member of the State house of representatives 1843-1844, 1846, and 1848, and the United States Senate from March 1849 to March 1855. He was authorized by President Abraham Lincoln to raise a brigade of loyal members of the Union from Maryland and was commissioned brigadier general in 1861. He served in West Virginia under General Fremont and was appointed commandment at Camp Chase near Columbus Ohio, where he died in March of 1863.