James Leonard Hodges

James Leonard Hodges (April 24, 1790 – March 8, 1846) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and a prominent early nineteenth-century public official in his native Taunton. He was born in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, where he attended the local common schools, receiving the basic education typical of New England youth of his era. Growing up in a community that was an important regional center for commerce and industry, he was exposed early to the civic and economic life of the town.

After completing his common-school education, Hodges studied law, preparing for a professional career in the legal field. He was admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of law, building a reputation that helped launch his subsequent public service. In addition to his legal work, he became involved in local financial affairs, serving as a bank cashier, a position that indicated a high degree of trust and responsibility in managing financial transactions and institutional affairs.

Hodges also held federal local office as postmaster of Taunton, overseeing the town’s postal operations at a time when the mail system was a critical infrastructure for communication and commerce. His combined experience in law, banking, and federal local administration positioned him as a respected figure in Taunton and provided a foundation for his entry into state politics.

Hodges first gained prominence in Massachusetts state affairs as a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1820–1821. This convention was convened to consider revisions to the state constitution, and his participation reflected both his standing in the community and his engagement with questions of state governance and constitutional structure. Following this service, he was elected to the Massachusetts Senate, in which he served in 1823 and 1824, contributing to legislative deliberations during a period of political realignment in the state and nation.

Building on his state-level experience, Hodges was elected as an Adams candidate to the Twentieth Congress and subsequently reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1827, to March 3, 1833. His alignment first with the Adams faction and then with the Anti-Jacksonians placed him within the broader National Republican opposition to Andrew Jackson, reflecting his support for policies associated with John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, including a stronger national role in economic development. During his three consecutive terms, he represented Massachusetts in a period marked by intense national debates over tariffs, internal improvements, and the balance of federal and state authority.

At the conclusion of his third term in Congress, Hodges declined to be a candidate for renomination, thereby ending his federal legislative career in 1833. He returned to Taunton, where he resumed private pursuits consistent with his earlier professional background in law and local affairs. Although specific details of his later activities are less fully documented, his long record of service suggests that he remained an influential figure in his community.

James Leonard Hodges died in Taunton, Massachusetts, on March 8, 1846. He was interred in Plain Burying Ground in Taunton, a historic cemetery that contains the remains of many of the town’s early and notable citizens. His life and career reflected the trajectory of a New England lawyer and civic leader who moved from local and state service to a role in the national legislature during a formative period in the political history of the United States.