James Pearce

James Pearce
United States Senator from Maryland
In office March 4, 1843 – December 20, 1862
Preceded by	John L. Kerr
Succeeded by	Thomas H. Hicks
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1839
Preceded by	Richard B. Carmichael
Succeeded by	Philip Thomas
In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Philip Thomas
Succeeded by	Francis Brengle
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office 1831-1835
Personal details
Born	James Alfred Pearce (1805-12-14)December 14, 1805 Alexandria, DC, U.S.
Died	December 20, 1862(1862-12-20) (aged 57) Chestertown, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Whig, Democrat
Spouses	Martha J.Laird ​ ​ (m. 1829; died 1845)​ Matilda Cox Ringgold ​ ​ (m. 1847)​
Children	4, including James Alfred Pearce Jr.
Alma mater	College of New Jersey
Profession	Politician lawyer
Signature

James Alfred Pearce (December 14, 1805 – December 20, 1862) was an American politician. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the second district of Maryland from 1835 to 1839 and 1841 to 1843. He later served as a U.S. Senator from Maryland from 1843 until his death in 1862.

In 1850, he developed the so-called Pearce Plan, a part of Compromise of 1850. The Pearce Plan provided a solution for the boundary dispute between Texas and the Federal government.^[1] Pearce wrote a bill that granted Texas $10 million in compensation for agreeing with the state borders charted by the government. After being approved by Congress, the bill was signed by President Millard Fillmore.^[2]