January 22, 1879
James Shields: Senator from Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri
Many men and women make politics a career and have been elected to Congress three or more times. None, however, have outdone Senator James Shields.
Shields was living in Illinois when he was elected to his first term in the US Senate in 1849. He later moved to the Minnesota Territory. When Minnesota was admitted to the Union in May 1858, Shields was elected one of the state's first two US Senators. After the Civil War, Shields settled in Missouri. On January 22, 1879, Shields was again elected to the US Senate.
To date, James Shields is the only person ever elected the the US Senate representing three different states.