John Overton was an American planter and slave trader, a judge at the Tennessee Supreme Court, a banker, political leader, and an advisor of Andrew Jackson. He was described in 1889 as having been the "wealthiest man in the State."

Occupation: judge, slave trader
Citizenship: United States
Born: April 9, 1766
Died: April 12, 1833

Not who you're looking for? Others named John Overton: Church of England clergyman and evangelical apologist · English footballer (born 1956)

Overview

John Overton (April 9, 1766 – April 12, 1833) was an American planter, advisor of Andrew Jackson, a judge at the Tennessee Supreme Court, a banker and political leader. Early life and education Overton was born on April 9, 1766, in Louisa County, Virginia. His parents were James Overton and Mary Waller; his father was a great-grandson of Robert Overton, the Parliamentarian military commander during the English Civil War (and friend of Marvell and Milton). Career In 1787, he began his law career and moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1789, to practice law at the Davidson County court. He was elected to succeed his friend Andrew Jackson as a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1804, where he served as a judge until 1810. His elder brother Thomas Overton served as Jackson's second in his duel with Charles Dickinson. In 1819, he founded Memphis, Tennessee on land he owned with Andrew Jackson and James Winchester. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1820.

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