Background
Solon Borland was born on September 21, 1808, near Suffolk, Virginia, United States.
Diplomat military physician politician
Solon Borland was born on September 21, 1808, near Suffolk, Virginia, United States.
Solon received an elementary education in North Carolina, studied medicine, and then located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
When the Mexican War opened Solon Borland volunteered and served until the capture of the City of Mexico. On April 24, 1848, he took his seat in the United States Senate by appointment in the room of A. H. Sevier, resigned. Later he was elected for the regular term beginning in 1849. At first he seems to have played no conspicuous part in the proceedings of the Senate, taking very little part in the debate on such important matters as the compromise measures of 1850, but later he took considerable interest in foreign affairs. On April 3, 1853, he resigned from the Senate and fifteen days later was appointed minister to Nicaragua and the other Central American states, vice John Slidell, declined. By this act Honduras was recognized as an independent state. Borland entered upon his official duties on September 14, 1853.
In a little over six months Borland started home, coming to Punta Arenas on the Accessory Transit Company's steamer Routh. At this time the Transit Company (Cornelius Vanderbilt) was engaged in a controversy with the authorities at Greytown. While Borland was waiting for transportation home the authorities of Greytown came to arrest Capt. Smith, of the Routh, on the charge of having murdered a native boatman, but Borland told them that the United States did not recognize their right to arrest an American citizen and ordered them to leave. This produced great excitement and later in the day, when he went to visit the American consul, a crowd attempted to arrest him. In the fracas someone threw a broken bottle and struck him in the face. On reaching Washington, Borland reported the matter to President Pierce, who sent the U. S. S. Cyane, Capt. Hollis, to the scene of trouble. The captain demanded $24, 000 damages for the Transit Company and an apology for the indignity to our minister. Satisfaction not being forthcoming, he completely destroyed the town next day by bombardment and fire, although there had been a complete change in the city government and the offenders could not be found. His actions met with protest from Great Britain, but were approved by President Pierce.
On July 13, Borland was offered the governorship of New Mexico, but declined and resumed his practise in Little Rock. While the secession convention was in session, but before it took final action, Borland raised a company of militia and with the approval of Gov. Rector proceeded by steamer to Fort Smith to demand the surrender of the fort, but Capt. S. D. Sturgis learned of his approach and abandoned the fort shortly before his arrival. Borland raised the Third Arkansas Cavalry, of which he was made colonel, but was forced to give up service on account of his health and died in or near Houston, Texas.
Solon Borland was a member of the Democratic party and of the United States Senate from Arkansas from 1848 to 1853.
Borland was thrice married: to Mrs. Huldah Wright of Suffolk, who bore him two sons; to Mrs. Hart of Tennessee; and to Mary J. Melbourne of Little Rock, who bore him one son and two daughters.