Peter Aaron Van Dorn

Peter Aaron Van Dorn (1773–1837) was an American lawyer, judge and cotton planter in Mississippi.

Born and raised in New Jersey, with a law degree from Princeton, as a young man he migrated to the Mississippi Territory, where he made his career and fortune.

He became a major planter with a plantation on the Yazoo River, a law practice in Port Gibson, and a seat as a judge on the Orphan's Court.

It had river access and was also on the Natchez Trace, a major route between this area and what became Nashville in Middle Tennessee.

Established as the county seat, Port Gibson became a major regional trading center for the cotton-based economy.

Van Dorn established a private law practice in Port Gibson and served as clerk of the Circuit Court from about 1810.

In 1821, he served on a commission alongside Dr William Lattimore and General Thomas Hinds to decide upon the location of the future state capital, Jackson, Mississippi.

Van Dorn also built a house in Grand Gulf, ten miles away from Port Gibson.

[2] Additionally, Van Dorn owned a cotton plantation on the Yazoo River and the numerous enslaved African Americans needed to work it.