Samuel Gwin

Gwin was a son of Methodist minister James Gwin, who was close to Andrew Jackson, a Tennessee businessman and U.S. Army brigadier general who became the U.S. president in 1828. Gwin was probably born at the Gwin farm in Sumner County, Tennessee.^[1] Samuel Gwin had served in John Coffee's mounted brigade during the War of 1812.^[2] He was said to be "a cripple" but could ride a horse. He later wrote to a U.S. Senator that he was "in Coffee's brigade in the assault and capture of Pensacola in 1814, and in all the engagements with the British below New Orleans."^[2] During the same period he served as "secretary to the General."^[2] His life for the 14 years between the end of the war and 1829 is undocumented. A surviving letter dated May 16, 1829 from Andrew Jackson to one Hardy Murfree Cryer stated that the president "was saving an office for Samuel Gwin, son of James Gwin, and later gave him a $1,000 clerkship."^[1] In 1829 during the first year of the Andrew Jackson administration he was appointed to a clerkship at the post office and went to Washington, D.C. for that job.^[2]

Andrew Jackson then wanted to appoint, first, his nephew Stockley D. Hays, to be surveyor general of Mississippi, and then to be register of the land office at Clinton, Mississippi, but Hays inconveniently died before he could fulfill his duties. As a second choice, Jackson wanted to appoint Samuel Gwin. U.S. Senator George Poindexter opposed both selections.^[3] Gwin wrote to Poindexter that while he remained devoted to his post office duties, he had health problems stemming from his military service and his wife was developing tuberculosis so a warmer climate would benefit their health.^[2] Gwin's appointment was rejected by the Senate, but Roger Taney suggested that Jackson that he could make a recess appointment, according to Taney's reading of the U.S. Constitution. Ultimately Gwin was appointed to a newly established land office at Chocchuma, Mississippi.^[2] A memorandum in support of Gwin was sent to Washington by "Powhattan Ellis, Gen. Thomas Hinds and Robert J. Walker, signed by every Democratic member of the [Mississippi] legislature and by one thousand of the most influential citizens."^[2] Another testimonial was provided by George R. Yerger, J. S. Yerger, and Fulton Anderson, "who had known him from boyhood in Tennessee."^[2]

The sale of public land at the Chocchuma land office was ultimately investigated by the United States Congress, "which revealed that although members of Congress, the chief justice of the Court of Appeals of Mississippi, and the federal marshal were present, no one could recall that the provisions of the Act of 1830 had been read, as required by the instructions of the Commissioner of the Land Office, or that there had been protests against the clearly illegal actions of the combinations. It was also brought out that the register, Samuel Gwin, had left his office to buy some tracts and had resold them immediately at a 33 percent profit to settlers, but the only unusual feature of his conduct is that he was induced to admit his dereliction."^[4]

Ultimately Samuel Gwin dueled George Poindexter's law partner Isaac Caldwell over the matter, and both of them died from it, one sooner, and one later.^[5][6][7] The duel took place in Clinton, Mississippi on January 12, 1836.^[8] Henry S. Foote was Gwin's second in the duel.^[9] According to one description of the duel, "The parties fought, each armed with four pistols, taking their positions thirty paces apart, with the right of advancing. Mr. Gwin advanced, receiving the fire from four of his antagonist's pistols, one ball taking effect in his breast. The wound is considered by his physicians mortal. When Mr. Gwin discharged his pistol Mr. Caldwell fell, and soon expired."^[10] A local physician reported, "[Gwin's] wound is very dangerous, passing through the right lobe of the lungs. I shall not be surprised if he follows his antagonist to the grave in a few days".^[8] According to Foote, Gwin was "never after a sound and healthy man".^[11]

Gwin died of a "congestive fever" of three days duration at the Exchange Hotel in New Orleans on July 24, 1838.^[12] At the time of his death he was said to be "cashier of the Union Bank" of Mississippi and a former receiver of public monies.^[12]

• William McKendree Gwin, his brother, a United States Senator