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John Minor Botts (September 16, 1802 – January 8, 1869) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from Virginia. ==Life and career== Botts was born in Dumfries, Virginia. Both of his parents were killed in the Richmond Theatre fire on 26 December 1811, so he and his siblings were raised by relatives in Fredericksburg. Botts attended the common schools in Richmond, Virginia, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. He moved to Henrico County, Virginia, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1833 to 1839. Botts was elected as a Whig to the United States House of Representatives in 1838, serving from 1839 to 1843. He was unsuccessful for reelection in 1842 but was elected again in 1846, serving from 1847 to 1849. He was chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs from 1847 to 1849. Botts was once again unsuccessful for reelection in 1848 and again in 1850. He represented the city of Richmond and the counties of Charles City, Henrico, and New Kent in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 and resumed practicing law in Richmond in 1852. Botts, who opposed President John Tyler, introduced a resolution on July 10, 1842. It levied several charges against the President and called for a nine-member committee to investigate his behavior, with the expectation of a formal impeachment recommendation. The Botts bill, however, was tabled until the following January, when it was rejected, 127−83.〔Chitwood, p. 303; Seager, p. 169.〕 During the presidential election of 1860, Botts, a member of the United States Constitutional Union Party, supported John Bell.〔("Presidential.; The Campaign in Virginia. John Minor Botts in the Field---He Denounces the Disunionists." ), ''The New York Times'', October 2, 1860〕 Though his candidate was unsuccessful, Botts continued to support the principles of the Constitutional Union party, and was uncompromisingly Unionist in his sentiments while his native state moved toward secession〔John Minor Botts, ("A Bold Protest Against Disunion.; Letter From John Minor Botts Protesting Against Secession." ), ''The New York Times'', December 11, 1860〕 and through the American Civil War, but refused to fight against Virginia.〔John Minor Botts, ("A Despairing Patriot.; Important Letter from Hon. J.M. Botts." ), ''The New York Times'', May 3, 1861〕 In 1862, he was jailed without trial for his Unionist positions〔("IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTH.; Great Excitement in the Rebel Capital. Full Particulars of the Arrest of John Minor Botts and Other Prominent Citizens." ), ''The New York Times'', March 7, 1862〕 by the Confederate provost marshal John H. Winder.〔McPherson, James, ''Battle Cry of Freedom'', Penguin Books, 1990, ISBN 978-0-14-012518-4, p.434〕 Botts was a delegate to the Southern Loyalists' Convention in 1866 before his death on January 8, 1869 in Culpeper, Virginia.〔("OBITUARY.; John Minor Botts" ), ''The New York Times''〕 He was interred in the Shockoe Hill Cemetery in Richmond, next to his son Archibald, who died in 1847 while serving with the U.S. Army in Mexico. John's grave marker reads: "He was under all circumstances an inflexible friend of the American Union. 'I know no North, no South, no East, no West. I know only my Country, my whole Country, and nothing but my Country.'" 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「John Botts」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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