Joseph Walker McCorkle (June 24, 1819 – March 18, 1884) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a California congressman from 1851 to 1853.
Joseph Walker McCorkle | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's at-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | |
| Preceded by | James A. McDougall |
| Succeeded by | Philemon T. Herbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 24, 1819 Piqua, Ohio |
| Died | March 18, 1884 (aged 59) College Park, Maryland |
| Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery (Piqua, Ohio) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Kenyon College |
Early life
editMcCorkle was born in Piqua, Ohio on June 24, 1819.[1] He attended Kenyon College as a member of the class of 1839, but left before graduating.[2] He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1842.[1] He moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he established a law practice.[1] From 1845 to 1849, McCorkle also served as Dayton's postmaster.[1]
In 1849, McCorkle moved to San Francisco, California at the start of the gold rush.[1] In 1850, he was an unsuccessful candidate for judge of California's Eighth Judicial District.[1]
Continued career
editLater in 1850, McCorkle obtained the Democratic nomination for the California State Assembly.[1] He won the general election and served one term, 1850 to 1852.[1] In 1850, he was the Democratic nominee for Congress from California's 2nd District.[1] He was elected and served one term, 1851 to 1853.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1852.[1]
On June 1, 1853, a dispute with he fought a duel with William M. Gwin, a fellow Democrat and one of California's U.S. Senators, over the management of federal patronage.[3] Gwin and McCorkle fired rifles at each other in San Mateo, California and came away unharmed.[3] A donkey in a field several hundred yards away was accidentally struck and died.[4]
Later life
editAfter leaving Congress, McCorkle moved from San Francisco to Marysville, California where he returned to practicing law.[1] In 1853, he was appointed judge of the 9th Judicial District, and he served until 1857.[1] In 1855, he was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senator.[1]
In 1857, McCorkle returned to San Francisco where he resumed practicing law.[1] In 1860, just after the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, he moved to nearby Virginia City, Nevada, where he practiced law until 1870.[1] He left Virginia City to practice law in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in cases before the American-Mexican Claims Commission.[1]
Death and burial
editIn retirement, McCorkle resided in Branchville, College Park, Maryland.[1] He died in Branchville on March 18, 1884.[1] McCorkle was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua, Ohio.[1] He was a lifelong bachelor and had no children.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t United States Congress (1961). Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 1288 – via Google Books.
- ^ Kenyon College (1899). General Catalogue of Kenyon College. Toledo, OH: Franklin Printing & Engraving Co. p. 31 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b O'Meara, James (1881). Broderick and Gwin: The Most Extraordinary Contest for a Seat in the Senate. San Francisco, CA: Bacon & Company. pp. 38–40. ISBN 9780598278869 – via Google Books.
- ^ Truman, Benjamin Cummings (1884). The Field of Honor. New York, NY: Fords, Howard, & Hulbert. p. 571 – via Google Books.
- ^ Stutesman, John Hale (1983). Alexander McCorkle (1722-1800) & His Kin. San Francisco, CA: J.H. Stutesman. p. 80 – via Google Books.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Joseph W. McCorkle (id: M000362)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
 | This article about a member of the United States House of Representatives from California is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |