Francis James (congressman)
Francis James (April 4, 1799 – January 4, 1886) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as an Anti-Masonic and Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district from 1839 to 1843. Biography. Francis James was born in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He attended the local public schools and Gauses' Academy. He studied law, was admitted to the bar of Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1825 and commenced practice in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 4th district from 1835 to 1836  and the 3rd district from 1837 to 1838. James was elected as an Anti-Masonic candidate to the Twenty-sixth Congress and reelected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business during the Twenty-seventh Congress. He resumed the practice of his profession in West Chester, and served as chief burgess in 1850. He died in West Chester in 1886 and is interred at Oaklands Cemetery.