Joseph Walker McCorkle | |
---|---|
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from California's at-large district | |
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | |
Preceded by | James A. McDougall |
Succeeded by | Philemon T. Herbert |
Personal details | |
Born | Piqua, Ohio | June 24, 1819
Died | March 18, 1884 College Park, Maryland | (aged 59)
Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery (Piqua, Ohio) |
Political party | Democratic |
Education | Kenyon College |
Joseph Walker McCorkle (June 24, 1819 – March 18, 1884) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a California congressman from 1851 to 1853.
McCorkle was born in Piqua, Ohio on June 24, 1819. [1] He attended Kenyon College as a member of the class of 1839, but left before graduating. [2] He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1842. [1] He moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he established a law practice. [1] From 1845 to 1849, McCorkle also served as Dayton's postmaster. [1]
In 1849, McCorkle moved to San Francisco, California at the start of the gold rush. [1] In 1850, he was an unsuccessful candidate for judge of California's Eighth Judicial District. [1]
Later in 1850, McCorkle obtained the Democratic nomination for the California State Assembly. [1] He won the general election and served one term, 1850 to 1852. [1] In 1850, he was the Democratic nominee for Congress from California's 2nd District. [1] He was elected and served one term, 1851 to 1853. [1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1852. [1]
On June 1, 1853, a dispute with he fought a duel with William M. Gwin, a fellow Democrat and one of California's U.S. Senators, over the management of federal patronage. [3] Gwin and McCorkle fired rifles at each other in San Mateo, California and came away unharmed. [3] A donkey in a field several hundred yards away was accidentally struck and died. [4]
After leaving Congress, McCorkle moved from San Francisco to Marysville, California where he returned to practicing law. [1] In 1853, he was appointed judge of the 9th Judicial District, and he served until 1857. [1] In 1855, he was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senator. [1]
In 1857, McCorkle returned to San Francisco where he resumed practicing law. [1] In 1860, just after the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, he moved to nearby Virginia City, Nevada, where he practiced law until 1870. [1] He left Virginia City to practice law in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in cases before the American-Mexican Claims Commission. [1]
In retirement, McCorkle resided in Branchville, College Park, Maryland. [1] He died in Branchville on March 18, 1884. [1] McCorkle was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua, Ohio. [1] He was a lifelong bachelor and had no children. [5]