Stephen Adams
United States Senator from Mississippi
In office March 17, 1852 – March 3, 1857
Preceded by	John J. McRae
Succeeded by	Jefferson Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's at-large district
In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	William H. Hammett
Succeeded by	no at-large seat
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
In office 1850
Personal details
Born	(1807-10-17)October 17, 1807 Pendleton, South Carolina, United States
Died	May 11, 1857(1857-05-11) (aged 49) Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Political party	Democratic

Stephen Adams (October 17, 1807 – May 11, 1857) was a United States Representative (1845 to 1847) and Senator (1852 to 1857) from Mississippi.

Early years

Adams was born to David Adams, a Baptist clergyman, in Pendleton, South Carolina; he moved with his parents to Franklin County, Tennessee in 1812.^[1] He attended the public schools, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1829, practiced in Franklin County.^[1] He was an slaveowner.^[2]

Career

He was a member of the Tennessee Senate from 1833 to 1834, when he removed to Aberdeen, Mississippi^[1] and commenced the practice of law. He was circuit court judge from 1837 to 1846, and was elected as a Democratic representative to the Twenty-ninth Congress,^[1] serving from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847. He again became a judge of the circuit court in 1848, was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1850, and was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1851.^[1]

Adams was elected to the U.S. Senate on February 19, 1852, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jefferson Davis^[1] and served from March 17, 1852 to March 3, 1857; while in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Retrenchment (Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Congresses).

Last years

At the close of his term he removed to Memphis, Tennessee and resumed the practice of law^[1] until he died there of smallpox^[3] on May 11, 1857^[4] and was interred in Elmwood Cemetery.