Shields, James (1806–1879)

Irish-born judge, soldier, and US senator. After serving on the Illinois Supreme Court, 1843–46, Shields was briefly the commissioner of the US General Land Office, but resigned to serve in the Mexican War, 1846–48. He was then briefly governor of the Oregon Territory but resigned to take a seat in the US Senate. In 1879 he became the only person to have represented three US states – Oregon, Missouri, and Minnesota – as a senator.