Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Pugh, James Lawrence

PUGH, James Lawrence, senator, b. in Burke county, Ga., 12 Dec., 1820. In early years he removed with his family to Alabama, where he received a collegiate education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He began to practise in Eufaula, Ala., was a presidential elector in 1848 and 1856, and was then elected to congress as a Democrat, serving from 5 Dec., 1859, till 21 Jan., 1861, when he retired, on the secession of his state. He was a delegate from Alabama to the house of representatives in the 1st and 3d Confederate congresses, serving from 22 Feb., 1802, till the surrender in 1865. He also served as a private in the Confederate army, and after the war again practised law. Mr. Pugh was president of the Democratic state convention of 1874, a member of the Constitutional convention of 1875, and a presidential elector again in 1876. He was elected a U. S. senator from Alabama for the term ending in 1885, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Houston, and was re-elected for the term ending 3 March, 1891, also for the term following.