James Burnie Beck

Democrat Senator of Kentucky

Representative
Kentucky, district 7
March 4, 1867 - March 3, 1869
Representative
Kentucky, district 7
March 4, 1869 - March 3, 1871
Representative
Kentucky, district 7
March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873
Representative
Kentucky, district 7
December 1, 1873 - March 3, 1875
Senator
Kentucky
October 15, 1877 - March 3, 1883
Senator
Kentucky
December 3, 1883 - March 3, 1889
Senator
Kentucky
December 2, 1889 - May 3, 1890

Congresses Served

House Terms

Senate Terms

February 13, 1822 (68 years old)

Birthday

May 3, 1890

Death

Scottish-American politician who served as both a United States Representative and Senator for Kentucky.
Migrated to the United States in 1838, initially settling in Wyoming County, New York, before moving to Lexington, Kentucky.
Graduated from Transylvania University in 1846 and was admitted to the bar, commencing the practice of law in Lexington.
Was a law partner of John C. Breckinridge, the U.S. Vice President who became a Confederate general, until shortly before the Civil War.
During the Civil War, was interrogated by a military commission regarding his knowledge of his former partner’s activities.
Elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, serving Kentucky’s 7th congressional district from March 4, 1867, to March 3, 1875.
Appointed to the Select Committee on Reconstruction and became a tenacious advocate of the rights of the defeated states, despite being a White supremacist and opposing civil rights for African Americans.
Served in the United States Senate from March 4, 1877, until his death on May 3, 1890, after being elected in 1876 and reelected twice.
While in the Senate, served as the Democratic Conference Chairman from 1885 to 1890 and was the chairman of the Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard.
Was prominent in discussions on tariff and currency questions.
Described by a long-time Washington journalist as “a stalwart, farmer-like looking man, with that overcharged brain which made his tongue at times falter because he could not utter what his furious, fiery eloquence prompted.”
Interred at Lexington Cemetery, and his son, George T. Beck, became a noted politician and entrepreneur in Wyoming.