Robert P. Letcher

Robert Perkins Letcher ( born February 10, 1788 at Goochland County, Virginia; † January 24, 1861 in Frankfort, Kentucky ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Kentucky.

Early years and political rise

After his family moved in 1800 to the Garrard County, Kentucky, the young Robert Letcher visited the Joshua Fry Academy. He then studied law and after his admission to the bar he practiced in Lancaster.

Letcher began his political career in 1813 when he was elected to the House of Representatives from Kentucky. With a break in 1816, he remained there until 1817. From 1822 to 1835, he represented the fifth electoral district of Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington. After his return he was elected to the Parliament of Kentucky again from 1836 to 1838, the last two years he was president of the House ( Speaker).

Governor of Kentucky

In the year 1840, Letcher applied for the Whigs for the office of governor of Kentucky. He won the election with 58.4 % of the votes ahead of his Democratic opponent Richard French. His term began on September 2, 1840 and ended four years later on September 4, 1844. His main problem was to overcome the consequences of the economic crisis of 1837 and the reduction of public debt. Through a drastic cut in expenditure, he tried to bring under control this problem. This policy actually led to a significant decline in the budget deficit at the end of his term.

After leaving the office of Governor Letcher was an attorney again. Between 1849 and 1852 he was the successor of Nathan Clifford American ambassador to Mexico. In 1852 he made an unsuccessful attempt to get elected again to Congress. He died in January 1861, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War.