Clemens, Jeremiah, 1814-1865

Clemens was born on 1814 Dec. 28, in Huntsville, Madison Co., Ala. He attended LaGrange College and graduated from the University of Ala. in 1833. He studied law at Transylvania University, was admitted to the bar in 1834, married Mary Read and opened a law office in Huntsville. He fought the Cherokee Indians that same year as a private in the U.S. Army. In 1838 he was appointed U.S. district attorney for the northern district of Ala. He fought in the 1842 Texas revolution as a lieutenant colonel, and represented Madison Co., Ala., in the state legislature from 1838-1841, and from 1843-1844. He fought in the Mexican War from 1847-1848 as a major in the U.S. Army. In 1849, he was elected a U.S. Senator, serving for four years. He was a member of the 1861 Ala. secession convention, and opposed immediate secession in favor of a cooperationist stance. In 1864 he advocated the re-election of Lincoln while travelling in the North, as he remained a unionist. He also wrote several novels, and at his death was engaged in the preparation of a history of the Civil War in northern Ala.

U.S. senator from Alabama, author, and army officer.