James Nesmith

James W. Nesmith
United States Senator
from Oregon
In office
March 4, 1861  March 3, 1867
Preceded byJoseph Lane
Succeeded byHenry W. Corbett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oregon's At-large district
In office
December 1, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byJoseph G. Wilson
Succeeded byGeorge Augustus La Dow
4th Supreme Judge of the Provisional Government of Oregon
In office
December 25, 1844  August 9, 1845
Preceded byIra Babcock
Succeeded byPeter Hardeman Burnett
Personal details
Born
James Willis Nesmith

(1820-07-23)July 23, 1820
New Brunswick, British Canada
DiedJune 17, 1885(1885-06-17) (aged 64)
Rickreall, Oregon
Resting placesouth bank of Rickreall Creek
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionLawyer

James Willis Nesmith (July 23, 1820 – June 17, 1885) was an American politician and lawyer from Oregon. Born in New Brunswick to American parents, he grew up in New Hampshire and Maine. A Democrat, he moved to Oregon Country in 1843 where he entered politics as a judge, a legislator in the Provisional Government of Oregon, a United States Marshal, and after statehood a United States senator and Representative.

Nesmith's grandson, Clifton N. McArthur, and son-in-law, Levi Ankeny, both later served in Congress.