Augustus Emmet Maxwell

Augustus Emmet Maxwell was an attorney, politician, and jurist who served as a congressman and Confederate senator, and held several positions in the Florida state government.

Augustus Emmet Maxwell
Born	September 21, 1821 Elberton, Georgia
Died	May 5, 1903 Chipley, Florida
Occupation	Attorney, politician, judges
Children	Evelyn C. Maxwell

Maxwell was born in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia, in 1821. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1841 and was admitted to the bar in Alabama in 1843. Maxwell practised law in Eutaw, Alabama for two years before moving to Tallahassee, Florida in 1845.

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Pre-Civil War career

Maxwell became Attorney General of the State of Florida in 1846 and held that position through 1847 when he became a state representative. Maxwell served as Florida Secretary of State in 1848, and as a state senator in 1849 and 1850. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Florida in 1852, taking office in 1853 and serving in that capacity through 1857. From 1857 through 1861, Maxwell served as the United States Navy agent at Pensacola.

During and after the war

After the outbreak of the Civil War, Maxwell served as a Senator from Florida in the Confederate Congress, serving both the First and Second Congresses from 1862 through the end of the war in 1865. After the end of the war, Maxwell served as a justice on the Florida Supreme Court in 1865 and 1866, as a circuit court judge from 1877 to 1885, and again as a State Supreme Court justice from 1887 to 1891.

Elections

In his election for the United States House of Representatives in 1852, Maxwell secured about 50.12% of the vote. In his bid for reelection two years later he received 55.26% of votes cast.