Charles S. Morehead

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Charles S. Morehead
20th Governor of Kentucky
In office September 4, 1855 – August 30, 1859
Lieutenant	James G. Hardy
Preceded by	Lazarus W. Powell
Succeeded by	Beriah Magoffin
United States Representative
In office March 4, 1848 – March 3, 1851
Born	July 7, 1802 (1802-07-07) Nelson County, Kentucky
Died	December 21, 1868 (aged 66) Mississippi
Political party	Know Nothing
Spouse	Amanda Leavy Margaret Leavy
Profession	Lawyer

Charles Slaughter Morehead (July 7, 1802 – December 21, 1868) was the twentieth governor of Kentucky.

[edit] Personal life

Morehead was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, the son of Charles Morehead and Margaret Slaughter Morehead. He graduated from Transylvania University with a bachelor’s degree in 1820 and a law degree in 1822. He worked as a lawyer in Christian County and later in Franklin County. He married Amanda Leavy in 1823, and following her death, married her sister Margaret in 1831. Charles and Margaret were very fond of music, theater, dances, and parties.^[1] Together they had four children.

[edit] Political career

Morehead was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives as a Whig, serving 1828-1829. He then served as State Attorney General, 1830-1835. He served again in the state house in 1838-1842 and 1844, serving as Speaker, 1840-1841 and 1840. Morehead served as a Kentucky representative in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1847 until March 3, 1851.

Following the demise of the Whig Party in the 1850s, Morehead joined the American Party under the claim that it was more "Union" than the Democratic Party.^[2] Morehead's campaign was marked by the anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant rhetoric, which appealed to most voters. The election was marred by violent and bloody riots in Louisville. Morehead won the election by 69,816 votes to 65,413 votes for Beverly L. Clarke, the Democratic opponent. Despite the campaign rhetoric, Morhead proclaimed "perfect equality" for naturalized citizens at his inauguration.^[3]

During his term as governor, Morehead proposed a bill for state-supported teacher's education program at Transylvania University to fill a shortage of teachers in the state. State Superintendent of Public Instruction John D. Matthews spoke out against the bill by fueling sectional fears that Northern teachers would infiltrate Kentucky and corrupt children's minds. The bill passed in 1856, briefly making Transylvania University a state-supported university. Two years later, the program had considerable opposition among legislators and both houses withdrew state support for the program.

During his term of office, the state geological survey begun under Governor Lazarus W. Powell was completed and published. Internal improvements continued as well. In just four years, railroad mileage increased from 242 miles to 568 miles. Morehead was also known for his humanitarian ideals, and during his term the state prison was increased to 252 cells to be made "dry and airy, with an iron bedstead and good bed and comfortable bedding in each."^[4]

By 1854, the Kentucky militia system had become almost useless. Most legislators considered the muster system out of date, though Morehead argued that the state needed a military system for emergencies. Following the General Assembly's reorganization of the state militia for a muster every six years, Morehead began to supply arms for volunteer companies.

After his term, Morehead moved to Louisville where he practiced law for two years. In February 1861 he attended the Washington Peace Conference and the Border State Convention in May 1861. Although he claimed neutrality, Morehead had Southern sympathies and his outspoken denouncements of the Lincoln administration let to arrest in September 1861. He spent four months in prison, after which he moved to Canada, Europe, and Mexico.

Following the Civil War, Morehead lived on his plantation in Greenville, Mississippi. He died there on December 21, 1868 and was buried in the Frankfort Cemetery.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• "Charles Slaughter Morehead" by James A. Ramage, Kentucky's Governors: Updated Edition (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky), 2004. ISBN 0-8131-2326-7

[edit] External links

• Find-A-Grave profile for Charles S. Morehead
• Biography from Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky

[edit] See also

• History of Kentucky

v • d • e Governors of Kentucky Shelby • Garrard • Greenup • Scott • Shelby • Madison • Slaughter • Adair • Desha • Metcalfe • J. Breathitt • J. Morehead • Clark • Wickliffe • Letcher • Owsley • Crittenden • Helm • Powell • C. Morehead • Magoffin • Robinson • Bramlette • Helm • Stevenson • Leslie • McCreary • Blackburn • Knott • Buckner • Brown • Bradley • Taylor • Goebel • Beckham • Willson • McCreary • Stanley • Black • Morrow • Fields • Sampson • Laffoon • Chandler • Johnson • Willis • Clements • Wetherby • Chandler • Combs • E. Breathitt • Nunn • Ford • Carroll • Brown Jr. • Collins • Wilkinson • Jones • Patton • Fletcher • Beshear Kentucky also had two Confederate Governors: George W. Johnson and Richard Hawes.