"[2] James Alexander McDougall was born on November 19, 1817, in Bethlehem, New York, and educated in the Albany grammar schools,[3] where he excelled in mathematics and civil engineering.

[3] McDougall began the study of law in Albany before moving westward, settled in Pike County, Illinois, in 1838, married the daughter of a leading Jacksonville attorney, and joined the Democratic Party.

[citation needed] Following his two terms as state attorney general, McDougall returned to private practice in Chicago, establishing a law partnership with Ebenezer Peck.

[6] While traveling the circuit and serving as attorney general in Illinois, McDougall became friendly with many fellow lawyers, including Douglas, Edward D. Baker[3] and Abraham Lincoln.

[3] Resuming his law practice, McDougall was elected California Attorney General in October 1850 but resigned after a year to accept a seat in the state legislature.

While serving in the U.S. Senate during the Civil War, McDougall again worked on behalf of a Pacific railroad project, but alcohol abuse made him ineffective.