hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm mˈɛɹivˌɪl kˈɑːlɪdʒ ɪn mˈɛɹivˌɪl, tˌɛnəsˈiː ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi, stˈʌdid lˈɔː ɪn dˈændɹɪdʒ,  ænd wʌz ɐdmˈɪɾᵻd tə ðə bˈɑːɹ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt.
He graduated from Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee in 1840, studied law in Dandridge,  and was admitted to the bar in 1848.