James Fairlie Cooper

James Fairlie Cooper (September 2, 1814 – October 14, 1869) was an American minter and soldier.

James Fairlie Cooper
Born(1814-09-02)September 2, 1814
New York City
DiedOctober 14, 1869(1869-10-14) (aged 55)
Atlanta, Georgia
Buried
Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia
Allegiance United States of America
 Confederate States of America
Service/branch United States Army
 Confederate States Army
Years of service1834–1837 (USA)
1861 (CSA)
Rank Second Lieutenant (USA)
Lieutenant Colonel (CSA)
Unit3rd U.S. Infantry
Commands held7th Georgia Infantry Regiment (CSA)
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Other workMinter, engineer, surveyor

Biography

Cooper was born in New York City on October 2, 1814. He was an alumnus of the United States Military Academy at West Point; graduating in 1834 as 17th out of 36. Commissioned into the United States Army he served in the 3rd U.S. Infantry as a second lieutenant; doing topographical surveys and being stationed in Louisiana. Cooper resigned his commission in 1837.

By 1843, he had become the (third) superintendent of the Dahlonega Mint in Georgia and remained in the position until 1849. Forty-four percent of the mint's coinage was struck during his tenure.[1]

When the American Civil war started in 1861, he briefly served in the Confederate States Army from May to December as lieutenant colonel of the 7th Georgia Infantry Regiment.

Afterwards, he became a civil engineer and surveyor. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 14, 1869, and was buried there on Oakland Cemetery.

References
  1. Lester, Carl N. "An Illustrated History of the Georgia Gold Rush and the United States Branch Mint at Dahlonega, Georgia". Gold Rush Gallery Inc. Retrieved January 2, 2014.


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