Jackson was born on April 4, 1806, in Fleming County, Kentucky, United States. He the son of Dempsey and Mary Pickett Jackson. They were Virginians who settled in Kentucky and later emigrated to Howard County, Missouri, where both father and son went into business and soon made enough money to retire.
Although his schooling in Kentucky had been meager, Jackson obtained a good practical education through association with his father-in-law and others. His public papers show that he was able to express himself clearly and forcefully.
Before Claiborne Fox Jackson was twenty Jackson emigrated to Old Franklin, Missouri, where he worked in a store and later took a partnership in the business. About 1830 he moved across the Missouri River into Saline County, where he was the proprietor of a store until 1836.
Jackson entered politics when he was elected to the General Assembly in 1836. Thereafter he was for four years cashier of the State Bank of Missouri at Fayette. In 1842 he was again elected to the legislature and was speaker of the House in 1844 and in 1846. Up to this time he had been an active supporter of Senator Thomas Hart Benton.
During the next three years, however, Claiborne and the "Central Clique" of pro-slavery men in the Democratic party turned against Benton; and when Benton's influence prevented Jackson's nomination for governor in 1848, the latter became openly hostile to "Old Bullion." The "Central Clique" opposed Benton not only because of his attitude on slavery but also because as younger men they resented his overweening domination of the Democratic party in Missouri. The anti-Benton policy was powerfully formulated in the famous "Jackson Resolutions" passed by the Assembly in 1848, which constituted a set of instructions from the "Central Clique" to Missouri's senators, aimed especially at Benton. Although Benton defied this injunction and as a result was defeated for re-election to the Senate, his influence was nevertheless sufficient to prevent Jackson's nomination for Congress both in 1853 and 1855.
In 1860, however, Jackson was nominated and elected governor. His inaugural address did not call for secession, although he asserted that should the Union be dissolved, Missouri must go with the South. His recommendations to the legislature were that a state convention was called and that the militia was reorganized. The one proposal was approved, the other was dropped. When the convention met, in February 1861, it was found that not one of its ninety-nine members favored immediate secession, though a majority bitterly opposed coercion. Going on record as favoring any workable compromise, it adjourned in March. Governor Jackson, too, favored compromise but was bent on arming the militia, as was shown by his attempts, frustrated by Francis P. Blair and Nathaniel Lyon, to get control of the United States arsenal at St. Louis. Lincoln's call for volunteers brought to Jackson additional support in his opposition to coercion and gave him the opportunity to write his defiant message to Secretary Cameron, refusing to furnish a single man for such an "unholy crusade."
After Lyon broke up the encampment of state troops at Camp Jackson, the reassembled legislature voted Jackson's militia bill; and upon the failure of the compromise between Sterling Price, commander of the state troops, and the federal General William Selby Harney, the Governor called for 50, 000 volunteers to defend the state. He and many members of the legislature withdrew to Neosho, and in November 1861, this remnant of the Assembly passed the ordinance of secession. Jackson did not play a prominent part in the actual fighting of the Civil War.
Jackson is best remembered as a speaker in the Missouri House of Representatives, who was later appointed the 15th Governor of Missouri.
Jackson's career was similar to that of many state politicians of his period. As a Southerner, it seems he never questioned the morality of slavery and strongly condemned those who did. Jackson worked for Missouri’s secession from the Union and therefore shared responsibility for the great destruction of property and loss of life that occurred in the state during the Civil War.
Claiborne didn't belong to any church.
Jackson vigorously supported proslavery positions and making Texas a state. As a Southerner, it seems he never questioned the morality of slavery and strongly condemned those who did.
Jackson married Jane Breathhitt Sappington, daughter of prominent frontier physician John Sappington, in early 1831 but she died within a few months of the nuptials. In 1833 he married Louisa Catherine Sappington, sister of his late first wife. In May 1838, Louisa Jackson also died. Claiborne and Louisa's infant son Andrew Jackson died the next month. Jackson's next, and final, marriage was to a third Sappington sister, Eliza.
1786-1857
1767-1846
1813-1831
1814-1838
1806-1864
unknown-1838
1841-1918
1844-1926
