James B. Belford

James Burns Belford
Frontispiece of 1897's The Writings and Speeches of Hon. James B. Belford.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's at-large district
In office October 3, 1876 – December 13, 1877 (contested election)
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Thomas M. Patterson
In office March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885
Preceded by	Thomas M. Patterson
Succeeded by	George G. Symes
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office 1867
Personal details
Born	September 28, 1837 (1837-09-28) Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Died	January 10, 1910 (1910-01-11) (aged 72) Denver, Colorado
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Frances McEwen Belford
Children	Frances Belford Wayne
Alma mater	Dickinson College
Profession	Attorney

James Burns Belford (September 28, 1837 – January 10, 1910) was a 19th-century American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Colorado.

James Burns Belford was born on September 28, 1937 in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Belford was the son of Samuel and Eliza Belford and cousin of Joseph McCrum Belford. He attended the common schools and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859.

Belford moved to California, Missouri and commenced practice. He moved to La Porte, Indiana in 1860, and served as member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1867. He was appointed an associate justice of the supreme court for the Colorado Territory in 1870 and moved to Central City. He moved to Denver in 1883.

Upon the admission of Colorado into the Union, Belford was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth Congress from the first district of Colorado and served from October 3, 1876, until March 3, 1877. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-fifth Congress and served from March 4, 1877 until December 13, 1877, when he was succeeded by Thomas M. Patterson, who successfully contested the election.

Belford was elected to the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Forty-eighth Congresses, and served from March 4, 1879 to March 3, 1885. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury during the Forty-seventh Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1884, and engaged in the practice of law in Denver until his death. He was known as the "Red Rooster of the Rockies" because of his flaming red hair and "magnificently roseate beard."^[1] In the mid-1890s he gained notoriety for successfully defending Denver conman and crime boss Soapy Smith in several cases.^[2]

Belford died in Denver, Colorado, on January 10, 1910 (age 72 years, 104 days). He is interred at Riverside Cemetery, Denver, Colorado.

He married Frances C. McEwen in 1860.^[3] Their daughter Frances Belford Wayne was a longtime newspaper journalist in Denver.^[4]

• United States Congress. "James B. Belford (id: B000326)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Govtrack US Congress
• The Political Graveyard
• James B. Belford at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress