Background
John Miller was born in Berkeley County, Virginia.
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John Miller
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At the age of twenty-two, Miller went to Steubenville, Ohio, where he became editor and publisher of the Western Herald, developed a superior literary style, and became deeply interested in all frontier problems, especially in military matters. Shortly before the War of 1812, he was appointed general in the Ohio militia and then served during that war as colonel of the 19th United States Infantry. His regiment won special commendation for courage and discipline from General William Henry Harrison. At the close of the war, he was ordered to duty in Missouri. In 1818, he resigned from the army and in 1821, became register of the land office at Franklin, Howard County, Missouri, a position which he held until 1825. On the death of Gov. Frederick Bates in 1825, he was elected to serve the unexpired term, and was reelected in 1828 without opposition for the full four-year term. Thus, he became the only governor of Missouri to serve more than one term. After he retired from the governorship, he spent four years of quiet private life at Fayette. In 1836, he was elected to Congress, and served three consecutive terms, at the end of which he voluntarily retired. He died on March 18, 1846, near Florissant in St. Louis County.
Achievements
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During Miller's administration, thousands of immigrants settled in the state, and Missouri grew prosperous. He proved to be an unusually faithful guardian of the state treasury. Aside from advocating federal improvement and maintenance of the navigation facilities of Missouri and the Mississippi rivers, and consistently opposing the growing tendency toward sectionalism and bitter partisanship, his congressional career was inconspicuous.
Politics
Although Miller deplored narrow partisanship, he was ordinarily classed as a Jacksonian Democrat. Among the major policies advocated by Miller were: a well-organized and trained militia, the withdrawal of state paper money from circulation, combined state and federal protection of trade and travel on the Santa Fé trail, the establishment of a state library and college, and the exclusion by the federal governments of all British traders from the Rocky Mountain fur-trading region.
Personality
Miller brought to the office of governor talents of a high order. His public policies and addresses manifested a grasp of frontier problems, social forces, legal principles, educational needs, and financial affairs. It was also his good fortune to be able to express his thoughts in clear and vigorous English. During his administration, David Barton and Thomas H. Benton labored to draw party lines more closely and aspired to the political leadership of the state. Miller, however, disliked this emphasis on partisanship, and was, for several years, able to assert a leadership superior to theirs. Placing ability above political considerations, he appointed such men as Spencer Pettis, John C. Edwards, and Hamilton R. Gamble to the highest state offices.
Connections
Miller was never married.
References
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Born
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Died
March 18, 1846 (aged 65) -
Nationality
American -
Political Party
Republican