Maj. James S. Rollins, 1812-1888

This painting was probably a study for the full-length portrait of the subject destroyed in the 1892 fire of the University of Missouri's Academic Hall. Born in Richmond, Kentucky, Rollins graduated from Indiana University in 1830. He then traveled to Boone County, Missouri. where his parents had already emigrated. Rollins studied law with Abiel Leonard and then at Transylvania's law school. With law partner Thomas Miller, Rollins became co-owner and editor of Columbia's Missouri Intelligencer and Boon's Lick Advertiser, renaming it the Columbia Patriot. He sold his interest in the paper in 1840. A Whig, Rollins won elections to the state legislature in 1838, 1840, 1854, and 1866. He was elected to the state senate in 1846 and 1868. Twice an unsuccessful candidate for governor, Rollins did win election to the United States house of of Representatives in 1860. Always keenly interested in education, Rollins was a leader and a major contributor in securing the state university in Columbia.

Bingham began painting portraits of Rollins as early as 1834. In 1837 he painted Rollins and his bride, Mary Hickman. The same year Rollins secured subscribers for several more Bingham portraits in Columbia. Rollins was also instrumental in getting a State commission for Bingham to paint portraits of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington for the State capitol, and he helped finance the printing of the Sartain engravings of Martial Law, or Order Number 11, in the winter of 1871-1872.

This portrait of Major James S. Rollins was presented to the State Historical Society of Missouri by James S. Rollins, II, and James S. Rollins, III, Columbia, Missouri, in September, 1961.