Daniel Barringer

June 30, 1806 (age 67)

Poplar Grove, North Carolina, United States

Politically ambitious, he also began his public career in 1829 when he was elected to represent Cabarrus County in the House of Commons. He served seven terms by annual election, but was compelled by illness to resign in 1835, in which year he also served as a delegate in the constitutional convention. After some years of ill health, he was again elected to the House and served two terms of two years each. In 1843 he was elected as a Whig to the United States House of Representatives, taking his seat on December 4, 1843, and serving until March 4, 1849, declining reelection. While in Congress he was active, serving at various times on the Committees on Naval Affairs, Indian Affairs, Revolutionary Pensions, and Revision of the Rules of the House. Though he spoke seldom he was effective on the floor both as a speaker and as a parliamentarian. During Abraham Lincoln's term in the House they shared a desk together and became close friends. In 1849 President Taylor appointed him minister to Spain, and after Taylor's death President Fillmore renewed the appointment. Barringer went to Spain with a keen hope of being instrumental in securing the cession of Cuba to the United States, a thing which he had long favored, but the conditions of his ministry made it impossible, President Fillmore being convinced that the annexation of Cuba would be a fatal mistake. On account of American filibustering expeditions to Cuba, the period was one of rather strained relations between Spain and the United States, and Barringer's post was one of much difficulty. But he established excellent relations with the Spanish court and foreign office, his knowledge of the language stood him in good stead and, poised and tactful, he handled his duties with entire satisfaction to the President and the State Department. When his successor was appointed in 1853, Barringer, after traveling for a time in Europe, returned to North Carolina. In 1854 he was again in the House of Commons for one term. He then temporarily retired from public life, moving to Raleigh and spending most of his time in reading and in social intercourse with his numerous friends. Abundant means made him independent of his profession and he found delight in taking care of his home place. He was strongly opposed to secession. A Union man, he did not approve of it in theory, and, familiar with the economic power of the North, he was convinced that a successful outcome was, at best, highly unlikely. A close friend of Robert E. Lee, he wrote him during the crisis, urging him to use his influence to keep Virginia in the Union, and he himself, in North Carolina, exerted all the influence he possessed in the direction of delay. He was sent by the legislature as a delegate from the state to the Peace Conference in Washington in February 1861. He became convinced at Washington, however, that no compromise would be accepted by the North, and with the call for troops and the secession of North Carolina he yielded, and, as the close, though unofficial, adviser of Gov. Ellis and Gov. Clark. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1872, where he advocated the nomination of Horace Greeley, and in the state and national campaigns which followed he was chairman of the state Conservative executive committee. His health failed soon afterward, and he died a year later at White Sulphur Springs.

Daniel Moreau Barringer

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congressman lawyer

Background

He was born on July 30, 1806, at "Poplar Grove, " near Concord, North Carolina.

Education

Educated at the University of North Carolina, he graduated in 1826 and remained at the University another year improving his knowledge of Spanish. He then studied law in Hillsboro, North Carolina, under Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin, and, admitted to the bar in 1829, was immediately successful in practise.

Career

Politically ambitious, he also began his public career in 1829 when he was elected to represent Cabarrus County in the House of Commons. He served seven terms by annual election, but was compelled by illness to resign in 1835, in which year he also served as a delegate in the constitutional convention. After some years of ill health, he was again elected to the House and served two terms of two years each. In 1843 he was elected as a Whig to the United States House of Representatives, taking his seat on December 4, 1843, and serving until March 4, 1849, declining reelection.

While in Congress he was active, serving at various times on the Committees on Naval Affairs, Indian Affairs, Revolutionary Pensions, and Revision of the Rules of the House. Though he spoke seldom he was effective on the floor both as a speaker and as a parliamentarian. During Abraham Lincoln's term in the House they shared a desk together and became close friends.

In 1849 President Taylor appointed him minister to Spain, and after Taylor's death President Fillmore renewed the appointment.

Barringer went to Spain with a keen hope of being instrumental in securing the cession of Cuba to the United States, a thing which he had long favored, but the conditions of his ministry made it impossible, President Fillmore being convinced that the annexation of Cuba would be a fatal mistake. On account of American filibustering expeditions to Cuba, the period was one of rather strained relations between Spain and the United States, and Barringer's post was one of much difficulty. But he established excellent relations with the Spanish court and foreign office, his knowledge of the language stood him in good stead and, poised and tactful, he handled his duties with entire satisfaction to the President and the State Department.

When his successor was appointed in 1853, Barringer, after traveling for a time in Europe, returned to North Carolina. In 1854 he was again in the House of Commons for one term. He then temporarily retired from public life, moving to Raleigh and spending most of his time in reading and in social intercourse with his numerous friends. Abundant means made him independent of his profession and he found delight in taking care of his home place. He was strongly opposed to secession. A Union man, he did not approve of it in theory, and, familiar with the economic power of the North, he was convinced that a successful outcome was, at best, highly unlikely.

A close friend of Robert E. Lee, he wrote him during the crisis, urging him to use his influence to keep Virginia in the Union, and he himself, in North Carolina, exerted all the influence he possessed in the direction of delay. He was sent by the legislature as a delegate from the state to the Peace Conference in Washington in February 1861. He became convinced at Washington, however, that no compromise would be accepted by the North, and with the call for troops and the secession of North Carolina he yielded, and, as the close, though unofficial, adviser of Gov. Ellis and Gov. Clark.

He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1872, where he advocated the nomination of Horace Greeley, and in the state and national campaigns which followed he was chairman of the state Conservative executive committee. His health failed soon afterward, and he died a year later at White Sulphur Springs.

Achievements

He played a considerable part in public affairs with complete devotion to the Confederate cause.

Connections

He was married to Elizabeth Wethered, daughter of Lewin Wethered of Baltimore.

Father:: Paul Barringer
Mother:: Elizabeth (Brandon) Barringer
Wife:: Elizabeth Wethered
Son:: Daniel Barringer
Friend:: Robert E. Lee
Friend:: Abraham Lincol

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Daniel Moreau Barringer

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