John B. Hoge
John Blair Hoge | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 1, 1896 (aged 71) Martinsburg, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, journalist, politician |
| Years active | 1845–1896 |
| Known for | U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1881–1883), United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (1885–1889) |
John Blair Hoge (February 2, 1825 – March 1, 1896) was a prominent American lawyer, journalist, and Democratic political figure. He represented West Virginia as a United States Congressman during the 47th Congress.
Biography
Hoge was born in Richmond, Virginia, and gained admission to the bar in 1845, subsequently establishing his legal practice in Martinsburg. In 1853, he assumed the presidency of the Bank of Berkeley in Virginia, an area now part of West Virginia. Between 1855 and 1859, he held a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates and took part as a delegate at the Democratic National Conventions held in Charleston and Baltimore in 1860. Throughout the Civil War, Hoge served both on the front lines and in staff positions within the Confederate Army until his parole in 1865.
By 1870, Hoge had returned to Martinsburg to continue his work in law and journalism. He contributed to the West Virginia constitutional convention of 1872 and was active on the Democratic National Committee from 1872 through 1876. In that year, he was appointed as judge for the third judicial circuit but stepped down in 1880 to pursue a congressional seat. Winning election to represent West Virginia’s 2nd District in 1880, Hoge served one congressional term from 1881 to 1883. Subsequently, he held the office of United States Attorney for the District of Columbia between 1885 and 1889. Hoge passed away in Martinsburg on March 1, 1896.