Biography of Solon Borland, Arkansas

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Submitted by: Bill Boggess
        Date: 09 Jul 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Source: The American Quarterly Register and Magazine,

December 1849 issue,

Biographical Sketches, page 435.

      Hon. Solon Borland, Senator from Arkansas, was the
youngest of three sons of Dr. Thomas Borland, and born in Nansemond
county, Virginia, on the 8th August, 1811. He removed with his father
into North Carolina, in 1823, and to western district of Tennessee, in
1836. In 1843, he went to Arkansas, where he has resided ever since. He
received no regular collegiate education, but studied medicine, and
attended a course of lectures in the University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, and commenced practice in 1834, in North Carolina. While
residing at Memphis, Tennessee, he attended another course of medical
lectures at Louisville (Ky.) Institute, where he was graduated in
March 1841. He then went to Arkansas, by invitation of the democratic
central committee of that state, to establish and conduct, as editor,
the Arkansas Banner newspaper. Was elected by the Arkansas Legislature,
at the session of 1844-5, presidential elector. Appointed by the
governor Adjt. Genl. of Arkansas, in Nov. 1844. Resigned that
appointment, and raised a company for the Mexican war in May, 1846. Was
elected major of the Arkansas mounted regiment at its organization. He
was taken prisoner at Encaruacion, Mexico, by General Minon, January
23d, 1847, whence he was marched to the city of Mexico, and kept a
prisoner until the 1st of August, when he effected his escape, and
joined the American army at Contreras, just as the place was captured.
United himself to Gen Twiggs' command, and was in the ranks at the
taking of Charubusco. Major Borland then joined General Worth as
volunteer ais-de-camp,on 8th September, at the beginning of the battle
of Molino del Rey, and continued with him in that capacity while he was
at Tacubaya, though the battles of Chapultepec, San Cosmo, and the city
of Mexico. He left the army, and returned home in December, 1847. About
the 1st April following, he was appointed by the Governor of Arkansas to
the United States senate, to fill the vacancy created by the appointment
of A. H. Sevier, commissioner to Mexico, and was subsequently, elected
to the same place, for six years, from the 4th March, 1849.


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