Background
John was born on January 1, 1827 near Millerstown, Kentucky, United States, the son of Patrick and Rachel (Newton) Ireland.
John was born on January 1, 1827 near Millerstown, Kentucky, United States, the son of Patrick and Rachel (Newton) Ireland.
Ireland received limited formal education at an old-field school in Hart County.
In 1851, after having occupied the positions of constable and deputy sheriff, John entered the law office of Murray & Wood at Mumfordsville, Kentucky, and in less than a year was admitted to the bar.
He soon moved to Texas, settling in the town of Seguin in April 1853. He was elected first mayor of Seguin in 1858 and in 1861 was sent as a delegate to the convention which abrogated the articles of annexation between Texas and the United States, where he strongly advocated secession.
In the spring of 1862 he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army. During the war he saw service only along the Texas coast, but rose, nevertheless, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
His prominence in political conventions of 1871 brought, in 1872, his election to the state House of Representatives. In 1873 he was elected to the Texas Senate, wherein he opposed vigorously the payment of money subsidies to railroads. Two years later he was appointed an associate justice of the Texas supreme court, and served very competently until 1876, when a reduction in the number of justices necessitated his retirement. This same year he was a candidate for the United States Senate but was defeated by Richard Coke. In 1878 Ireland suffered a second defeat when, in an intense political struggle, he attempted to replace Gustave Schleicher in Congress.
By 1882, however, Ireland was a veteran in Texas politics, and his ambition, backed by ability and influence, had made him head of the Democratic machine. Consequently, he was easily nominated and elected governor in 1882, and reëlected in 1884.
As he was retiring from the office of governor in January 1887, he sought a coveted place in the United States Senate, but lost to John H. Regan in a one-sided contest. This defeat ended Ireland's political career.
He returned to his home at Seguin where he continued his law practice and business pursuits for the remainder of his life. He died in 1896.
Before 1861 he had probably been a Know-Nothing, but in his post-war activities he was consistently a stern Democrat.
A firm believer in slavery, Ireland campaigned for greater efforts to reclaim slaves who had run away to freedom in Mexico. He was an ardent secessionist.
During his time as a state legislator, Ireland backed the bill creating the University of Texas at Austin, [citation needed] was a proponent of low taxes, and favored regulating the railroads.
Ireland was twice married: in 1854, to Mrs. Matilda (Wicks) Faircloth, who died in 1856; and in 1857, to Anna Maria Penn.