David Meriwether (Kentucky)

David Meriwether ( born October 30, 1800 Louisa County, Virginia, † April 4, 1893 in Louisville, Kentucky ) was an American politician (Democratic Party), who represented the state of Kentucky in the U.S. Senate and as Governor of New - Mexico territory served.

As a small child who was born in Virginia David Meriwether moved in 1803 with his parents to Kentucky, where the family settled in Jefferson County. He attended the public schools; later he worked in the fur trade in Iowa as well as in agriculture. After completing a law degree, he was admitted to the bar and began to practice as a lawyer.

Politically, Meriwether operated from 1832, when he was elected to the House of Representatives from Kentucky, where he remained until 1845. Was unsuccessful in 1847 his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1849 he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of his State, in 1851, he held the office of the Secretary of State of Kentucky.

After the death of U.S. Senator Henry Clay, the longtime leader of the Whigs, David Meriwether was appointed to succeed him in Congress. He took his mandate from the July 6, 1852 true, but it had already on 31 August of the same year re-emit the officially elected as the new Senator Archibald Dixon.

U.S. President Franklin Pierce appointed Meriwether in the following year the governor of New Mexico Territory after the actual candidate, Senator Solon Borland of Arkansas, this post was rejected. In New Mexico, he had to contend with Indian problems. But he succeeded, at least for a short time to make peace treaties with the Indians. Meriwether ruled the territory until 1855 and then returned to Kentucky, where he remained until 1885 again belonged to the state House of Representatives in 1858. In old age he sat on his plantation near Louisville to rest, where he died in 1893.