John Rice Eden (February 1, 1826 – June 9, 1909) was an American lawyer and politician who a total of five terms served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois during three non-consecutive stints between 1863 and 1887.

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John R. Eden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 17th district
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887
Preceded by	Samuel W. Moulton
Succeeded by	Edward Lane
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 15th district
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Albert P. Forsythe
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 7th district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by	James Carroll Robinson
Succeeded by	Henry P. H. Bromwell
Personal details
Born	(1826-02-01)February 1, 1826 Bath County, Kentucky
Died	June 9, 1909(1909-06-09) (aged 83) Sullivan, Illinois
Resting place	Greenhill Cemetery
Political party	Democratic

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Born in Bath County, Kentucky, Eden moved with his parents to Indiana. He attended public schools, and later studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1853 at Shelbyville, Illinois and commenced practice in Sullivan, Illinois.

He served as prosecuting attorney for the seventeenth judicial district of Illinois 1856-1860.

Eden was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1864 to the Thirty-ninth Congress. He was an unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois in 1868.

Eden was elected to the Forty-third, Forty-fourth, and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879). He served as chairman of the Committee on War Claims (Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1878. He resumed the practice of law in Sullivan, Illinois.

Eden was elected to the Forty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1886.

He again engaged in the practice of law.

He died in Sullivan, Illinois, June 9, 1909. He was interred in Greenhill Cemetery.

• United States Congress. "John R. Eden (id: E000042)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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