Kentucky Governor. He graduated from Centre College Kentucky, in 1835, earned a law degree from Transylvania College, in 1838, was admitted to bar and establishing legal firm in Jackson, Mississippi. Entering politics, he served as the reading clerk of the Mississippi State Senate, (1838 to 1839) and then returned to Kentucky. In Kentucky, he secured the position as Police Judge of Harrodsburg, in 1840, served as a Democratic presidential elector and was a member of the Kentucky State Senate in 1850. In 1859, he was elected as a Democrat the 21st Kentucky Governor. During his administration, he dealt with the contentious issues of secession and the imminent coming of the Civil War. He urged the state to setup concessions for the rights about slavery, advocated for Kentucky's right to stay neutral and rejected President Lincoln's call for troops. Due to his conflict with the state's legislature over the position in the Civil War, he resigned from office on August 18, 1862. After the war's end in 1865, he supported civil rights for blacks and he urged for the sanctioning of the Thirteenth Amendment. He also served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, (1867 to 1869). Retiring from politics, he resumed the practice of law and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. In 1860, Magoffin County, Kentucky, was created and named in his honor.
Kentucky Governor. He graduated from Centre College Kentucky, in 1835, earned a law degree from Transylvania College, in 1838, was admitted to bar and establishing legal firm in Jackson, Mississippi. Entering politics, he served as the reading clerk of the Mississippi State Senate, (1838 to 1839) and then returned to Kentucky. In Kentucky, he secured the position as Police Judge of Harrodsburg, in 1840, served as a Democratic presidential elector and was a member of the Kentucky State Senate in 1850. In 1859, he was elected as a Democrat the 21st Kentucky Governor. During his administration, he dealt with the contentious issues of secession and the imminent coming of the Civil War. He urged the state to setup concessions for the rights about slavery, advocated for Kentucky's right to stay neutral and rejected President Lincoln's call for troops. Due to his conflict with the state's legislature over the position in the Civil War, he resigned from office on August 18, 1862. After the war's end in 1865, he supported civil rights for blacks and he urged for the sanctioning of the Thirteenth Amendment. He also served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, (1867 to 1869). Retiring from politics, he resumed the practice of law and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. In 1860, Magoffin County, Kentucky, was created and named in his honor.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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