Humphrey Marshall (1812-1872)
Tom Marshall (1801-1864)
Photography Book
Politicians/Diplomats
Grandfather (also Humphrey Marshall) was US Senator from Ky who fought a 3 shot duel with Clay ’09, uncle is abolitionist James Birney, West Point ’32, Black Hawk War, resigns for law ’32, into Ky Militia, fights with Z. Taylor in Mexican War, back to farming & politics, US House ’49-52 as Whig, back’s Clay’s 1850 Compromise, Amb to China ’52-54, back to US House ’55-59 on American/Nativist Party, moderate, backs John Breckinridge ’60, minor role as CSA Brigadier, to Va and CSA congress, post-war law practice.
Born in Ky, studies law, newspaper editor, then Atty General for state, moves briefly to Miss, Buchanan names him Commissioner of Patents ’57, sticks with Buck after South secedes, Sec of War for 6 weeks, anti-slavery, joins army and serves as Judge Advocate General ’62-75, prosecutes General Fitz Porter ’62 and Lincoln assassin conspirators.
Clay/Calhoun/Webster
Maryland -- Statehood Granted: April 28, 1788 State Motto: Manly deeds, womanly words
He serves in the War of 1812 before becoming a lawyer and serving five terms in the House, first as a Whig, then a Unionist and finally a Democrat who opposes the 13th Amendment after the war.
Border States (Continued)
Legal career leads into state politics and election as Kentucky Governor 1859-62 as the war breaks out. He tries hard for a compromise built on repealing all state laws blocking execution of the fugitive slave act, before backing Crittenden Compromise. Despite his southern leanings, he reluctantly supports the state assembly’s vote to remain “neutral” during the war. But he resigns later feeling the state has gone over to the Union side.
Edward Bates (1793-1869)
“The eloquent son of Kentucky,” uncle was John Marshall, lawyer and politician, Mexican War service, US House as Whig ’41-43.
Henry Winter Davis (1817-1865)
Kentucky (Continued)
Thomas Benton (1782-1858)
Born on Va plantation, military academy, War of 1812 duty, to St. Louis and law, helps write MO state constitution, states atty general ’21, state house ’22, law partner killed in a duel ‘23, US House ’27-29, loses race for US Senate to Thos Benton, becomes a Whig in ‘40’s, wins freedom for woman slave’43, rejects Sec of War under Fillmore, switched from American to Republican Party, prez contender in ’60 convention, Lincoln chooses him as Atty Gen ’61-64, supports AL in arresting Southern sympathizers, but opposes Emancipation Proc & black soldiers, resigns when not given Supreme Court post, retires to MO, 17 children, one son fights for CSA.
Son of Francis Blair Sr of “Kitchen Cabinet” fame under Jackson, West Point ’35, in 2nd Seminole War, law and judge in St. Louis, plaintiff in Dred Scott, switches from Dems to Republican after Kansas-Neb decision (pop sov in west), Lincoln names him Postmaster Gen ’61-64, outspoken support for AL in reinforcing Ft. Sumter, opp to Emancipation Proc, forced to resign to appease Fremont faction, splits with Radical Reps after the war, loses runs for US Senate ’65 and US
Montgomery Blair (1813-1883)
Joseph Holt (1808-1894)
John Crittenden (1787-1863)
Missouri-- Statehood Granted: August 10, 1821 State Motto: Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law
James Speed (1812-1887)
Charles Morehead (1802-1868)
Reverdy Johnson (1796-1876)
Father a lawyer in Annapolis and top justice in Md,, college, War of 1812, bar ’15, works with Taney, Pinkney, Luther Martin, state politics, linked to scandal related to ’35 collapse of Md banks, US House ’45-49 as Whig, US Atty Gen under Z Taylor ’49-50, legal fame comparable to Webster, opposed to slavery and in ’57 defends Dred Scott, pro-Douglas in ’60, but then Peace Commission & helps keep Md in Union, defends Fitz Porter court-marshal & Mary Surratt, US Senate ’63-68, votes against 14th Amendment (granting black citizenship and ending “codes”), Amb to UK ’68-69 for Johnson, prosecutes KKK.
Graduates Kenyon College and UVA law school before opening practice in Maryland. Enters politics as a Whig, before winning a US House seat as a Know Nothing in 1857. Skilled thinker and orator, he plays a leading role in trying to find a compromise to avoid southern secession. He backs the John Bell/Unionist ticket in 1860 before joining the Republican Party and backing both Lincoln and emancipation despite his home state’s opposition.
Lawyer, plantation owner, US House ’47-51 as Whig, Governor of KY ’55-59 as Know Nothing, effective leader or state, supports South and arrested, freed ’62 and goes to Canada, lives on his Miss plantation post-war til death
Henry Grider (1796-1866)
Wealthy family in NC, student at UNC but booted for theft, moves to Nashville, large plantation, lawyer, Andrew Jackson protégé, state house ’09, Lt-Col aide to Andrew Jackson in War of 1812, engages in brawl with AJ and exits to MO, edits Missouri Enquirer, kills legal opponent in duel, statehood after Compromise of 1820, US Senator ’21-51 as Dem-Rep, rejoins AJ to oppose JQA in ’28 election, opposes US Bank, pro-“hard money” (as “Old Bullion”), Specie Circular policy leads to ’37 Panic, pro-westward expansion, Homestead Acts, but troubled by Mexican War aggression, hard-core Dem but troubled by slavery causes break, Sen. Foote draws pistol on him in the Senate over his opposition to 1850 Compromise, anti-slavery stance leads to loss of senate seat ’51, US House ’53-55 but loses after anti-KN stance, backs son-in-law John Fremont for Prez ’56, but never abandons Dem Party he helped build from scratch.
Ky birth, Wm & Mary, law, marries cousin of Z Taylor, 1st Ky Militia in 1812 War, speaker state House, US Senate ‘1817-9, legal case with Clay, negotiates Ky/Ten border, helps organize Whig Party ’34, back to US Senate ’35-41, etc., pro-Texas annex, moderate on slavery, Atty General for WHH, never rich, anti-Mex War (two sons serve), Gov ’48-50, Fillmore cabinet, declines run for Prez, anti-KN act, helps Constitutional Union Party and John Bell to avoid secession, US House ’61-3, sons fight on opposite sides, seeks neutrality for KY in the war.
Beriah Magoffin (1815-1885)