Image shows Shields in a dark civilian suit with large bowtie.

Image is clear with good contrast and looks clean.

Reverse has E. ANTHONY FROM A BRADY NEGATIVE back mark. Top is also inscribed “SHIELDS” in pencil.

James Shields was born in Altmore, County Tyrone, in what is now Northern Ireland on May 10, 1806. Shields attempted to immigrate to the United States in 1822, but failed when his ship was driven aground, leaving him one of only three survivors. He eventually made it to America around 1826, and found his uncle, whom he had sailed to meet, dead. Shields took a job as a sailor, however, after a time, an accident left him disabled, and in the hospital for three months. Eventually, he settled in Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois where he studied and later practiced law. He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, beginning in 1836, and then as an Illinois Supreme Court justice and in 1839 as the state auditor.

Shields almost fought a duel with Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1842. Lincoln had published an inflammatory letter in a Springfield, Illinois, newspaper that poked fun at Shields, the State Auditor. Lincoln's future wife, Mary Todd, and her close friend continued writing letters about Shields without Lincoln's knowledge. Taking offense to the articles, Shields demanded "satisfaction" and the two parties met on an island located between Missouri and Illinois called Bloody Island to participate in a duel. Lincoln had the opportunity to choose the weapon for the duel and he selected the cavalry broadsword, as Shields was an excellent marksman. Just prior to engaging in combat, Lincoln made it a point to demonstrate his advantage (because of his long arm reach) by easily cutting a branch just above Shields' head. The two participants' seconds intervened and were able to convince the men to cease hostilities.

On July 1, 1846, Shields was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers to fight in the Mexican War. He served under Zachary Taylor along the Rio Grande. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, Volunteer Division, at the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo, where he was wounded. He returned to fight at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, his brigade now part of the 4th Division. He was again wounded at the Battle of Chapultepec.

Following the war, on August 14, 1848, he was nominated and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as governor of Oregon Territory. However, he declined the position He resigned to run for the Senate from Illinois. His election was voided by the Senate on the grounds that he had not been a United States citizen for the nine years required by the United States Constitution; having been naturalized October 21, 1840. He returned to Illinois and campaigned for re-election, and won the special election to replace himself, and was then seated.

In 1855, he was defeated for re-election so he moved to Minnesota to inspect some lands he had been awarded there in return for his military service. When Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858, Shields was put forward as a compromise candidate for US Senator along with Henry Mower Rice. Shields won and served only a year from 1858 to 1859, losing his re-election bid.

Shields then moved to California and served as a brigadier general of volunteers from that state during the Civil War. He commanded the a division during the Valley Campaign of 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Kernstown on March 22, 1862, but his troops inflicted the only tactical defeat of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson during the campaign. The day after Kernstown, he was promoted to major general, but the promotion was withdrawn, reconsidered, and then finally rejected. His overall performance in the rest of the Valley Campaign was poor enough that he resigned his commission, and his departure was not resisted by the War Department.

In 1863 he went to Mexico and operated mines, and then to Wisconsin. In 1866 he moved to Missouri, where he served as member of the Missouri State House of Representatives, and as railroad commissioner. In 1879, he was elected to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Lewis V. Bogy. He served only three months and declined to run for re-election. He is the only man to serve as Senator from three different states.

Shields died in Ottumwa, Iowa on June 1, 1879 and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri. He represents Illinois in the National Statuary Hall.     [ad]

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