Kentucky. Governor (1839-1840 : Wickliffe)

Charles Anderson Wickliffe, a member of Whig party, became governor of Kentucky in 1839 upon the death of Governor James Clark, and completed the final year of Clark's term.

Wickliffe was born June 8, 1788 near Springfield, Kentucky. He read law in Bardstown and began his career as an attorney in 1809. He held the office of commonwealth's attorney for a time, and then was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1812. He served in the War of 1812 at the Battle of the Thames, and returned to the House in 1820.

In 1823, Wickliffe successfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. When it fell to the House to decide the 1825 presidential election, Wickliffe supported Andrew Jackson against the counsel of Whig leader Henry Clay. He disagreed with Clay over several other issues, including limiting slavery. Wickliffe also clashed with the Jacksonians, and, although he did not follow a strict party line, generally supported the Whigs.

Wickliffe was elected lieutenant governor in 1836, with fellow Whig James Clark as governor. When Clark died in 1839, Wickliffe assumed office. In his one year tenure as governor, Kentucky was faced with serious economic problems because of the aftermath of the Panic of 1837. As a result of the large amount of hard currency leaving the state, the banks discontinued specie payments. Wickliffe recommended raising taxes as a means to resolve the state's budget deficit, but the legislature refused. By the time he left office, however, there were signs of economic recovery.

President John Tyler appointed Wickliffe to the office of United States Postmaster General in 1841. Wickliffe again antagonized many of his fellow Whigs by supporting the annexation of Texas. His ties to the Whig party were effectively severed when President Polk, a Democrat, sent him on a secret mission to Texas.

In 1861, Wickliffe was elected to the United States House of Representatives on the Union ticket. He ran for governor in Kentucky as a Peace Democrat candidate, but was defeated by Thomas Bramlette. He died in 1869 and was buried in Bardstown, Kentucky.

From the description of Subunit history. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145415927