Thomas Metcalfe (Kentucky)

Thomas Metcalfe ( born March 20, 1780 Fauquier County, Virginia; † August 18, 1855 in Carlisle, Kentucky ) was an American politician and governor of Kentucky. This State, he also represented in both houses of Congress.

Early years and career

Metcalfe attended the local schools of his home, then he worked for several years as a stonemason before he participated as a Captain on the British -American War. In 1812, his political career began with his election to the House of Representatives of Kentucky, where he remained until 1816. Between 1819 and 1828 he was a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington. There he was a member of both the Indian Committee and the Military Committee.

Governor of Kentucky

In 1828, Metcalfe ran for the governorship. He was the first candidate of the National Republican Party, a precursor of the Whigs, who stood in opposition to the Democratic Party of Andrew Jackson. Metcalfe was also the first candidate in a gubernatorial election in Kentucky, who was elected on a party convention. The election of 1828 was very scarce. Metcalfe reached 50.5 % of the votes, his rival candidate William T. Barry came to 49.9 %. His lead was only slightly more than 700 votes. His term began on August 26, 1828 and ended on September 4, 1832. During this time the railway age began in Kentucky. The first railway lines were planned and built. In addition, a channel to bypass a waterfall on the Ohio was planned. The governor also planned the establishment and development of a nationwide school system.

State Senator and U.S. Senator

After the end of his term Metcalfe remained politically active. From 1834 to 1838 he sat in the Senate from Kentucky. Between 1841 and 1849 he was chairman of a committee to improve the infrastructure of the country ( State Board of Internal Improvements ). He held from 1848 to 1949 as a U.S. Senator in Washington His last political office; in the meantime he had been the Whig Party connected.

Thomas Metcalfe died in August 1855 of cholera. He was married to Nancy Mason, with whom he had four children. The Metcalfe County was named after him.