Kentucky. Governor (1859-1862 : Magoffin)

Beriah Magoffin, a Democrat, served as governor of Kentucky from 1859 to 1862, during the period of the secession crisis and the first years of the Civil War. He resigned after three years in office when, as a result of the hostile political climate, his power and effectiveness as governor were considerably diminished.

Born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky in 1815, Magoffin received a degree from Centre College and graduated from the law school at Transylvania University in 1838. After a brief stay in Mississippi, he returned to Harrodsburg where he practiced law and was appointed a police judge in 1840. Magoffin was active in Democratic politics, and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention four times. He was elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1850, but failed in his campaign for lieutenant governor in 1855. In 1859, Magoffin won the governorship, defeating Joshua Bell.

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