Statesman; born near
Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 15, 1797; was graduated at Cumberland College (now the University of Nashville) in 1814, and studied law in
Franklin, Tenn. In 1817 he was elected to the State Senate.
After the expiration of his term he practised law till 1827, when he was elected to Congress.
he served in the House of Representatives till 1841 by re-elections.
After abandoning his free-trade views, he became one of the founders of the
Whig party (q. v.), and was elected speaker of the House of Representatives in 1834.
President Harrison appointed him
Secretary of War in 1841, but he resigned with other members of the cabinet (excepting Daniel Webster) when
President Tyler left the Whig party.
In 1847-59 he was a member of the United States Senate, and in 1860 he was the unsuccessful candidate of the
constitutional Union party (q. v.) for
President, with
Edward Everett for
Vice-President.
He died in
Cumberland, Tenn., Sept. 10, 1869.