James S. Cothran

James Sproull Cothran (August 8, 1830 – December 5, 1897) was an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina.

Early life and military service

Cothran was born on August 8, 1830, near Abbeville, South Carolina. His father was banker and railroader Wade Samuel Cothran, and his mother was Frances Elizabeth (née Sproull) Cothran, who was a relative of colonial official William Caldwell and politician John C. Calhoun.

Educated at a local school, Cothran attended Erskine College, He studied law in Abbeville under Thomas C. Perrin, partnering with Thomas Perrin. From 1876 to 1880, he was solicitor of the 8th South Carolina Circuit Court, then served as its judge from 1881 to 1886.

Cothran was a Democrat. In 1867, he represented Abbeville County in the South Carolina Senate. He was a delegate to the 1872 Democratic National Convention. In 1876, he was chairman of the Abbeville County Democratic Party. He served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1891, representing South Carolina's 3rd district. While in Congress, he was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in Congress. He was not renominated for the following election.

From 1891 to 1897, Cothran practiced law in Greenville. In January 1890, he was made a legal counselor for the Richmond and Danville Railroad, remaining in the position until his death.

Personal life and death On July 17, 1855, Cothran married Emma Chiles Perrin, the daughter of Thomas Perrin. They had four children together, including judge and politician Thomas P. Cothran. He was Presbyterian. He died on December 5, 1897, aged 67, in New York City. He was buried at Upper Long Cane Cemetery.