James Cochran Dobbin (1814-1857) Papers, 1846-1857

BlDtelen of Xrrtjuita and SanuBtrlplii fctatf Brparlmrnt of Arrbtara anb Mtutorg Ealrtgtj. SfpcU) fflarnltaa CoUection: DOBBIN, JAMES COCHRAN, PAPERS 1846-1857 , n.d. 4 р.аЛУ,4_ Physical Description: 14 items, consisting of 11 original letters, 1 photo¬ copy of letter, 1 autograph of J. C. Dobbin, and 1 typescript containing 246 pagee. Acquisition: Biennial Report, 1914-1916. receipt of letter[s?J from Dob¬ bin; 1916-1918. 4 A.L.S. of James C. . Dobbin; 1920-1922. addition; Octo¬ ber 22, 1940. purchase from University of Rochester, photostat of James C. Dobbin to Josiah Tattnall, May 9, 1856. At least one letter (Peter Force to James. C. Dobbin) and probably two others were transferred from the David L. Swain Collection. Description: James Cochran Dobbin (1814-1857) was born in Fayetteville and attended the Bingham School and the University of North Carolina. After his graduation from the latter in 1832, he read law and was ad¬ mitted to the bar, practicing in Fayetteville. He served as Congress¬ man from the Fifth District, 1845-1847, as a member of the House of Com¬ mons from Cumberland County, 1848, 1850 and 1852, and as speaker of the House, 1850. In 1852, he headed the North Carolina delegation to the Democratic Convention and made the speech which began the successful drive for the nomination of Franklin Pierce. In 1853, he was appointed by Pierce as Secretary of the Navy and served in this position until 1857. The collection contains one letter written by Dobbin while he was a Congressman — a recommendation in 1846. Nine of the letters concern matters in the Navy Department, including one letter on the ocean mail service (October 9, 1854). Two concern the copying of the English re¬ cords pertaining to North Carolina-one letter (August, 1856) from Peter Force recommending an Englishman to help, and copy of a letter (August, 1856) from Dobbin to G. M. Dallas, minister to Great Britain, asking for Dallas' aid. From notes in Dobbin's handwriting on the back of the copy and the letter, it would appear that both of these items were sent to David L. Swain, who was interested in the record copying pro¬ ject.