Alexander "Aleck" Boarman (December 10, 1839 – August 30, 1916) was a United States representative from Louisiana and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Previously, he served in the Confederate States Army and as Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Alexander "Aleck" Boarman
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
In office
May 18, 1881 – August 30, 1916
Appointed byJames A. Garfield
Preceded bySeat established by 21 Stat. 507
Succeeded byGeorge W. Jack
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 4th district
In office
December 3, 1872 – March 3, 1873
Preceded byJames McCleery
Succeeded byGeorge Luke Smith
Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
In office
1866–1867
Preceded bySamuel Wells
Succeeded byLewis S. Markham
Personal details
Born
Alexander Boarman

(1839-12-10)December 10, 1839
Yazoo City, Mississippi
DiedAugust 30, 1916(1916-08-30) (aged 76)
Loon Lake, New York
Resting placeOakland Cemetery
Shreveport, Louisiana
Political partyLiberal Republican
Residence(s)Shreveport, Louisiana
EducationTransylvania University
read law
NicknameAleck
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Branch/service Confederate States Army
Years of service1861–1865
Rank Captain
UnitLouisiana 1st Louisiana Infantry
Army of Northern Virginia
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Education and career edit

Born on December 10, 1839, in Yazoo City, Yazoo County, Mississippi,[1] Boarman lost his parents in infancy and was raised by relatives in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana.[2] He attended the common schools of Shreveport and Kentucky Military Institute in Franklin, Kentucky, graduated from Kentucky University (now Transylvania University) in 1860 and read law in 1860.[2] At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army and served as lieutenant of the Caddo Rifles.[2] He was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain and served throughout the war.[2] He entered private practice in Shreveport from 1866 to 1868.[1] He was the Mayor of Shreveport from May 7, 1866 to August 8, 1867.[1] He was city attorney for Shreveport from 1868 to 1872.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election as Secretary of State of Louisiana in 1872.[2]

Civil War service edit

Boarman's regiment, the 1st Louisiana Infantry,[3] became part of the Army of Northern Virginia. After one year of fighting, Boarman was promoted to the rank of captain in the Confederate States Army, which he held until 1865. He served as the acting assistant Adjutant-General in the Battle of Winchester. His commanding office wrote of the engagement:

I would call particular attention to Capt. Alexander Boarman, acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieut. Joseph Taylor, acting aide-de-camp, who behaved with much courage, gallantry, and efficiency, and greatly assisted me in the engagement.[4]

Congressional service edit

Boarman was elected as a Liberal Republican from Louisiana's 4th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 42nd United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative-elect James McCleery and served from December 3, 1872, to March 3, 1873.[2]

Later career edit

Following his departure from Congress, Boarman resumed private practice in Shreveport from 1873 to 1877.[1] He was a Judge of the Louisiana District Court for the Tenth Judicial District from 1877 to 1881.[1]

Federal judicial service edit

Boarman was nominated by President James A. Garfield on May 18, 1881, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, to a new seat authorized by 21 Stat. 507.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 1881, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on August 30, 1916, due to his death while on a visit in Loon Lake, Franklin County, New York.[1] He was interred in Oakland Cemetery in Shreveport.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Alexander Boarman at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g United States Congress. "Alexander Boarman (id: B000579)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  3. ^ Bartlett, Bartlett (1875). Military Record of Louisiana. L. Graham & Company. p. 8.
  4. ^ Reports of Col. J. M. Williams, Second Louisiana Infantry, commanding Nicholls' brigade (June 16, 1863).

Sources edit

  • Louisiana State Bar Association, Mississippi State Bar Association, Bar Association of Arkansas, Texas Bar Association; "Report of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Volume 18", The Association, (1918)
  • Thompson, E.; "Law Notes, Volume 20", E. Thompson Co., (1917)
  • Judicial Conference of the United States. Bicentennial Committee; "Judges of the United States", The Conference, for sale by the U.S. G.P.O, (1983)

External links edit

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th congressional district
1872–1873
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 21 Stat. 507
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
1881–1916
Succeeded by