Remarkable Orator

Remarkable Orator (HM269G)

Location: Vicksburg, MS 39183 Warren County
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Country: United States of America
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N 32° 21.141', W 90° 52.752'

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Inscription

—Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trail —

Seargent Smith Prentiss (1808-1850)

Built before 1837 this was once the office of Seargent Smith Prentiss, a famous lawyer and politician. Prentiss was well known and loved as a remarkable orator. Daniel Webster, one of the foremost orators of the day, stated that he had never beheld a speaker as powerful as Prentiss. While settling the founder of Vicksburg's will, he was involved in an ongoing legal dispute over valuable riverfront property. Prentiss had become one of the wealthiest men in the state by developing the property until the case was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court. This and other complications led to his economic downfall. His premature death in 1850 at the age of 41 left the nation grieving the loss of a well-spoken and bright man.

"In Defense of a Bedbug"

Once, while traveling, Seargent Prentiss and his companions were awakened by the bites of bedbugs. All favored execution of the culprits except Prentiss who decided to defend the bedbugs. Guests at the inn were awakened to serve as judge and jury for this late night mock trial. Then Prentiss, the great orator, launched into a long speech to defend and save the bedbugs. In the end, because his speech was so eloquent, the bedbugs were acquitted of all charges!

Just Sayin...'

The streets in the original



city of Vicksburg were named for trees and noted Americans. Some of the street names in this area are: Walnut, Mulberry, Cherry, Locus, Elm, Pine, Holly, Washington, Jackson, Adams, Monroe and Clay.

Photo caption
July 1863
Admiral Porter's Union fleet below the Prentiss House during the Surrender of Vicksburg.
Details
HM NumberHM269G
Tags
Year Placed2018
Placed ByThe City of Vicksburg
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Sunday, March 25th, 2018 at 10:01pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)15S E 699570 N 3581469
Decimal Degrees32.35235000, -90.87920000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 32° 21.141', W 90° 52.752'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds32° 21' 8.4599999999999" N, 90° 52' 45.12" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)601
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling North
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 1001-1099 Monroe St, Vicksburg MS 39183, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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