Joseph Eve was born 17 July 1784 in Culpeper Co., VA. As a young man he moved to Knox County, Kentucky. He md. Betsey Withers Ballinger in 1811. They had no children.
He was an attorney there, and was elected to the KY state house of representatives three times. He was a Colonel in the War of 1812, and later served four years as a State Senator; still later a circuit court judge for a period of ten years.
On 15 Apr 1841 Eve was appointed to represent the USA in the Republic of Texas. He was a strong advocate of US annexation of Texas. During this time, conflict between Texas and Mexico grew, and the Texan government was moved several times. Eve moved his legation to Galveston, hoping to benefit from the climate, as his tuberculosis was getting worse. He was replaced by William S. Murphy on 3 Apr 1843. He died there in June 1843, and his wife returned to Kentucky.