John Morgan BRIGHT, Congress, TN (1817-1911)
BRIGHT, John Morgan, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tenn., January 20, 1817; attended the schools of Fayetteville and Binghamâs School, Hillsboro, N.C.; was graduated from Nashville (Tenn.) University in September 1839 and from the law department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., in March 1841; was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Fayetteville, Tenn.; member of the State house of representatives in 1847 and 1848; served as general on the staff of Gov. Isham G. Harris 1861-1865; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1881); chairman, Committee on Claims (Forty-fourth through Forty-sixth Congresses), Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Forty-fourth Congress); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1880 to the Forty-seventh Congress; resumed the practice of law; died in Fayetteville, Tenn., October 3, 1911; interment in the Presbyterian Churchyard.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present
