John B. Weller was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, on February 22, 1812. His family had German origins, and his parents had moved to Ohio from New York a few years before his birth. He attended the local public schools and then Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, but did not graduate. Instead, he began to study law at age 18 under the tutelage of Jesse Corwin, a leading figure in the community and brother of Thomas Corwin (who was also a Member of Congress from Ohio's 2nd District). After admission to the bar, Weller began to practice law in Butler County, where t Democrats soon nominated him to be the prosecuting attorney. Though his opponent was Corwin, his former tutor, Weller won the election and served as from 1833 to 1836.

In the late 1830s, Weller took over for Taylor Webster as editor of the influential Democratic paper of Hamilton County, the Western Telegraph. It was the Democratic rival to its opposition paper, the Hamilton Intelligencer.

Though he was more interested in politics than in law, he still maintained a reputation as being a capable lawyer. Weller is listed as having the distinction of filling more public stations than anyone else in Butler County. In 1838 was elected as a Democrat to represent Ohio's 2nd District to the 26th Congress. Though barely old enough to legally hold that position, he continued to prove himself eloquent and capable, becoming known as a formidable debater on the House floor. He was re-elected for two more terms, both times defeating Lewis Campbell, who would later become a representative of Ohio's 2nd District as well. Weller declined nomination to be a candidate in the 1844 election, and instead returned to practicing law for a short time.

Weller's first wife, Miss Ryan, died very early in their marriage. Soon after his election to Congress, he married again, this time to the daughter of the Ohio state auditor, John Bryan. His second wife died two years later, having no children. In 1845, Weller married Miss Taylor, niece to the Senator Thomas Benton from Missouri. They had one child, John B. Weller, Jr. Weller's third wife died three years after their marriage. In 1854, Weller married a widow, Mrs. Staunton, and had another son, Charles.

From 1846-1847, Weller served in the Mexican-American War as a lieutenant colonel in an Ohio regiment. He became the commander of the regiment after its colonel died in the Battle of Monterey. In 1848, Weller returned from military duty and ran as a Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio in one of . the most intense gubernatorial races in Ohio up to that point. After many recounts and throwing out disputed votes, Weller lost the election by only 345 votes.

The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War, and its terms included Mexico ceding part of California to the United States. In 1849, President Polk appointed Weller to be a member of the commission sent to establish the boundary line between California and Mexico according to the terms of the treaty. After serving on the commission, and after Taylor became President, Weller remained in San Francisco and practiced law there. He switched his focus from Ohio politics to California politics, and in 1852, replaced John C. Fremont as a California Senator. Weller represented the new state of California in the United States Senate as a Democrat until March 3, 1857 and was Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs during part of that time. Weller was against the Civil War and wanted the North to increase efforts to prevent Southern secession by any non-military means available. He did not serve a second Senate term.

After leaving Congress for the second time, Weller continued his career in California politics by running for governor. He was elected the fifth governor of California in 1858. Early in 1860, President Buchanan appointed Weller Ambassador to Mexico. But when President Lincoln took office in 1861, he recalled Weller and appointed Thomas Corwin, also a former representative from Ohio's second district, in his place. Weller's last political position was as delegate to the 1864 Democratic National Convention.

In 1867, Weller moved again, this time to New Orleans, LA. There, he resumed practicing law and continued to work as a lawyer until his death on August 17, 1875.

Sources:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
A History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio. From OH Historical Society Journals
American National Biography
Dictionary of American Biography
Picture from Biographical Directory of US Congress

>back