TIP #350, KENTUCKY GOVERNORS - PART 1 While just a list of the Governors who have served Kentucky sounds rather boring ... I have learned to included extra information in my family histories. In addition to names, dates, burial places and basic genealogical information; I include little snippets of what was going on in the country while my ancestors lived, or people who were of importance. It serves to "flesh out" the family tree and allows us to see what their lives were like or who they were talking about! The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives has records for many of the governors. These holding are described in: Catalog of Kentucky State Archives Holdings . My appreciation for their biographies following: 1. ISAAC SHELBY. Served 1792 - 1796 and 1812 Born: Maryland Resided: Lincoln Co Party: Jeffersonian Republican Occupation: Farmer, Surveyor Military: Soldier Active in American Revolution and frontier campaigns against the Indians 2. JAMES GARRARD 1796 - 1804 Born: Virginia Resided: Bourbon Party: Jeffersonian Republican Occupation: Farmer, Soldier, Baptist Minister Special: Only Kentucky Governor to serve two full successive terms; first to live in Governor's Mansion. 3. CHRISTOPHER GREENUP 1804 - 1808 Born: Virginia Resided: Mercer and Fayette Party: Jeffersonian Republican Occupation: Lawyer Special: Elected Governor without opposition. "Spanish Conspiracy" and Aaron Burr's activities revealed during this administration. 4. CHARLES SCOTT 1808 - 1812 Born: Virginia Resided: Woodford Party: Jeffersonian Republican Occupation: Soldier, Farmer Military: Extensive service in Revolution and Indian wars. Supported the War of 1812 which began at the end of his term. 5. ISAAC SHELBY 1812 - 1816 See above. 6. GEORGE MADISON 1816 Born: Virginia Resided: Franklin Co. Party: Jeffersonian Republican Occupation: Soldier, Public Servant Served as Auditor of Public Accounts, 1796-1816. Special: First Governor to die in office, shortly after his inauguration in 1816. 7. GABRIEL SLAUGHTER 1816 - 1820 Born: Virginia Resided: Mercer Party: Democratic Republican Occupation: Farmer Military: Soldier Saw action at Battle of New Orleans. Special: Became Governor upon Madison's death. "Panic of 1819" caused economic disruption. 8. JOHN ADAIR 1820 - 1824 Born: South Carolina Resided: Mercer Party: Democratic Republican Occupation: Farmer Military: Soldier Charged with conspiring with Aaron Burr, but exonerated. Special: Signed bill creating Bank of the Commonwealth, one of several relief measures that brought about Old Court/New Court controversy. 9. JOSEPH DESHA 1824 - 1828 Born: Pennsylvania Resided: Mason Party: Jeffersonian Republican Occupation: Farmer, Soldier Special: Elected on a pro-relief platform, actively supported creation of New Court. The Old Court/New Court controversy dominated his administration. 10. THOMAS METCALFE 1828 - 1832 Born: Virginia Resided: Nicholas Party: National Republican (Whig) Occupation: Stonemason Special: Later served in State Senate and U.S. Senate. 11. JOHN BREATHITT 1832 - 1834 Born:Virginia Resided: Logan Party: Jacksonian Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Special: Only Democratic Governor elected in Kentucky between 1828 and 1850, faced opposition majority in legislature. Died in office. 12. JAMES TURNER MOREHEAD 1834 - 1836 Born: Bullitt Resided: Warren Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer Special: First native-born Governor, succeeded to office upon death of Breathitt. Later served in U.S. Senate, 1841-1847. 13. JAMES CLARK 1836 - 1839 Born: Virginia Resided: Clark Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer, Judge Special: died in office. 14. CHARLES ANDERSON WICKLIFFE 1839 - 1840 Born: Nelson Co Resided: Nelson Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer Special: Succeeded to office upon Clark's death. Later served as U.S. Postmaster General. 15. ROBERT P. LETCHER 1840 - 1844 Born: Virginia Resided: Garrard Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer Special: Served as ambassador to Mexico, 1849-1852. 16. WILLIAM OWSLEY 1844 - 1848 Born: Virginia Resided: Lincoln Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer, Judge 17. JOHN JORDAN CRITTENDEN 1848 - 1850 Born: Woodford Lived: Logan Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer Special: Served 20 years in U.S. Senate. Resigned as Governor to become U.S. Attorney General. 18. JOHN L. HELM 1850 - 1851 Born: Hardin Resided: Hardin Party: Whig Occupation: Lawyer Special: Succeeded to office upon Crittenden's resignation. Elected in own right in 1867 as a Democrat. 19. LAZARUS W. POWELL 1851 - 1855 Born: Henderson Resided: Henderson Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Served as U.S. Senator, 1858-1865. 20. CHARLES SLAUGHTER MOREHEAD 1855 - 1859 Born:Nelson Resided: Franklin Occupation: Lawyer Special: Imprisoned for 4 months in 1861 for anti-administration sympathies. 21. BERIAH MAGOFFIN 1859 - 1862 Born: Mercer Resided: Mercer Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Special: Resigned in 1862 after negotiations allowed him to pick his successor. 22. JAMES F. ROBINSON 1862 - 1863 Born: Scott Resided: Scott Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer 23. THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE 1863 - 1867 Born: Cumberland Resided: Jefferson Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer, Judge Serving as a General in Union Army when nominated for Governor. 24. JOHN L. HELM 1867 - Born: Hardin Resided: Hardin Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Became ill during election campaign, died five days after inauguration. 25. JOHN W. STEVENSON 1867 - 1871 Born: Virginia Resided: Kenton Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Succeeded to office upon death of Helm. Special: Resigned in 1871 to become U.S. Senator. 26. PRESTON H. LESLIE 1871 - 1875 Born: Wayne Resided:Barren Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer, Farmer Special: Succeeded to office upon resignation of Stevenson. Appointed territorial Governor of Montana in 1887. 27. JAMES B. McCREARY 1875 - 1879 Born: Madison Resided: Madison Party: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Special: Confederate veteran. Served in U.S. Congress beginning in 1885. Elected Governor again in 1911. 28. LUKE P. BLACKBURN 1879 - 1883 Born: Woodford Resided: Jefferson Party: Democrat Occupation: Doctor - well known for medical work in cholera and yellow fever epidemics. 29. J. PROCTOR KNOTT 1883 - 1887 Born: Marion Resided:Marion Party: Democrat Lawyer Special: Served six terms in U.S. Congress, 1867-1883. First Dean of Law Department at Centre College, 1894. 30. SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER 1887 - 1891 Born: Hart Resided: Hart Party: Democrat Occupation: Soldier, Businessman, Newspaperman Instructor at West Point, served in Mexican War, and as a Confederate General in Civil War. To be concluded next week. (c) Copyright 19 July 2001, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved. sgorin@glasgow-ky.com Sandi Gorin - A Proud Kentucky Colonel 205 Clements, Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-9114 Member: Glasgow-Barren Co Chamber of Commerce http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ Barren Co web page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kybarren/ Gorin website: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=surnames.gorin KY biographies: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=localities.northam.usa.st ates.kentucky.bios KYResearch tips: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&p=localities.northam.usa.st ates.kentucky.tips Archives of SCKY: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/sck.html