Reuben Chapman

Reuben Chapman
13th Governor of Alabama
In office December 16, 1847 – December 17, 1849
Preceded by	Joshua L. Martin
Succeeded by	Henry W. Collier
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama
In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Clement Comer Clay
Succeeded by	Williamson R. W. Cobb
Constituency	1st district (1835–1841) At-large district (1841–1843) 6th district (1843–1847)
Personal details
Born	(1799-07-15)July 15, 1799 Bowling Green, Virginia, U.S.
Died	May 17, 1882(1882-05-17) (aged 82) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Resting place	Maple Hill Cemetery
Party	Democratic

Reuben Chapman (July 15, 1799 – May 17, 1882) was an American lawyer and politician. He served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1835 to 1847, and as the 13th governor of Alabama from 1847 to 1849.

Born on July 15, 1799, in Bowling Green, Virginia, he moved to Alabama in 1824, where he established a law practice. He was colleagues with Thomas McElderry and the two of them would go on to serve on the Old Bank of Decatur board together in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

He represented Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1835, to March 3, 1847, and served as the 13th Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1847 to 1849.

While a member of the House of Representatives, he had a very contentious relationship with the French ambassador, Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt. In 1844 the ambassador had made remarks towards him, and Virginia congressman George W. Hopkins, and Chapman challenged Louis Adolphe Aimé Fourier, comte de Bacourt to a duel. However, the French ambassador backed down. That same year the French ambassador also offended Virginia congressman Lewis Steenrod, though it is unknown precisely what words were exchanged. Chapman and Hopkins grew so hostile towards the French ambassador that in 1846, President James K. Polk eventually asked the French government to send Monsieur Fourier home and select a new ambassador to the United States.¹

He died in Huntsville, Alabama on May 17, 1882, and was buried at Maple Hill Cemetery.