John Jones McRae (January 10, 1815 – May 31, 1868) was an American politician in Mississippi. A Democrat,[1] he served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and as governor of Mississippi.
John J. McRae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 5th district | |
| In office December 7, 1858 – January 12, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | John A. Quitman |
| Succeeded by | Legrand W. Perce |
| 21st Governor of Mississippi | |
| In office January 10, 1854 – November 16, 1857 | |
| Preceded by | John J. Pettus |
| Succeeded by | William McWillie |
| United States Senator from Mississippi | |
| In office December 1, 1851 – March 17, 1852 | |
| Appointed by | James Whitfield |
| Preceded by | Jefferson Davis |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Adams |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| In office 1847–1851 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Jones McRae January 10, 1815 Sneedsboro, North Carolina, United States |
| Died | May 31, 1868 (aged 53) Belize City, British Honduras |
| Political party | Democratic |
Biography
McRae was born in Sneedsboro, North Carolina. In 1817, he moved with his parents to Winchester, Mississippi.[2] In 1834, McRae founded the town of Enterprise in Clarke County. McRae attempted to navigate the Chickasawhay River by steamboat, and in 1842 took a steamboat from Lake Ponchartrain to Enterprise.[3]
He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1847 to 1851.[1] During that time, he helped set up the University of Mississippi.[4] He also represented Mississippi in the United States Senate in 1851 and 1852, in the U.S. Congress in the 35th and 36th congresses, and in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.[1] He also served as the 21st Governor of Mississippi from 1854 to 1857.[1]
He died on a visit to British Honduras (now Belize), where his brother Colin J. McRae lived in exile.[4]