(1782-1858) Missouri Democratic Senator and the Senate Spokesman for the West and for "Manifesst Destiny." Born to a wealthy family in North Carolina, upon his father's death the call of the West led him to move his mother and large family to a 40,000 home near Nashville, Tennessee. On it he set up schools, churches and under the patronage of his friend Andrew Jackson, then a Supreme Court Justice and one of the most powerful men in Tennessee, he became a lawyer and was elected to the Legislature. With the outbreak of the War of 1812 he became Aide-de-Camp to Jackson with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Benton saw no action but stayed near Washington where he looked after Jackson's interests. The West of this period was filled with violence and Benton¿s brother Jesse became entangled in a feud with a friend of Jackson. Jackson's temper led him to brag that he would take a whip to Thomas. Benton and his brother met up with Jackson who was briefly back in Tennessee in 1813, and a mele, begun by Jackson, ended with Jesse Benton shooting and seriously wounding Jackson to the point where he almost had to have his arm amputated. Benton was shot at by Jackson who missed but was beaten by Jackson's companion and fell down a flight of stairs. For some years Benton and Jackson were mortal enemies but later turned into allies. In 1815 Benton packed up his family and moved to the newly opened Missouri Territory where he hoped he could become territorial leader. Benton quickly became a judge and opened the second newspaper in the West. While in court in 1817 he and the opposing lawyer called each other lyers which led to another duel. Benton shot Charles Lucas through the throat and Benton was grazed in the leg. He called off the finishing of the duel but rumors spread that Benton, the better shot, had chosen 30 feet apart because it favored him. Angered, he challenged Lucas to another duel, this time at nine feet, where Benton shot him near the heart, killing him. Over the course of his life Benton took part in other duels, coming out the winner. In 1820 the Missouri Compromise made Missouri a state with Benton being elected as one of the first two Senators, a post he held for 30 years. During his time his main interest was in moving America to the West which he ultimately believed was the Pacific Ocean. He was also a "hard money" man believing that "soft" money helped the Eastern interests. From this he gained the nickname "Old Bullion." Benton, now a strong supporter of Jackson was able at the end of Jackson¿s term to have the Congresses censure of Jackson cleared from the books. He supported the "Homestead Acts" which helped settle the West, pushed for a transcontinental railroad, favored friendly relations with the Indians, and favored the Mexican War in order to expand Western territory. In 1844 he was aboard the U.S.S. Princeton when the cannon exploded killing several cabinet officers and others but Benton survived and was back in Congress the next day. He strongly opposed Calhoun's belief in "States Rights" and the two were enemies and dispite the fact Benton was a slave-holder he opposed the expansion of slavery into the West and his power in Democratic Party, once emense, began to decline. Despite his son-in-law John Charles Freemon¿s candidacy for the Presidency on the new Republican Party, Benton stayed loyal to the Democrats and backed Buchanan. By 1850 he opposed the compromise and the bitterness of the issue led to Mississippi Senator Henry Foote trying to assassinate him. Foote was wrestled to the Senate floor. As the Democratic Party became more and more slavery oriented he was defeated in the race for Senate in 1850. Two years later he was elected to the House where he tried to have the Compromise of 1850 repealed which cost him re-election and the 1854 Governor¿s race. As an elderly man he compiled the 15 volume abridged debates of the Congress and a book on the Dred Scott Case. Benton's family carried on in importance. His nephew Samuel Benton was a Confederate General, another nephew Thomas Hart Benton, Jr. was a Union General. His brother-in-law James McDowell was a Governor and Senator from Virginia, his son-in-law was the great explorer and Union General John C. Fremont, two of Benton's cousins married Senators including Henry Clay and his grand nephew became the famous painter. A Fine Dark 4" Free Franked Thomas Hart Benton ¿ U. S. Senator Sig.

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