Meredith Poindexter Gentry was an American politician. He was a representative from Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives.
Background
Meredith Poindexter was born on September 15, 1809, in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States. Son of the wealthy planter Watson and his wife Theodesia Poindexter Gentry. In 1813 his parents moved to Williamson County, Tennessee.
Education
Meredith completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Franklin, Tennessee.
Career
Meredith Poindexter Gentry was admitted to the bar in 1830, he practiced law only briefly in Franklin, Williamson County. Instead, he became a successful planter in College Grove, Tennessee.
Gentry, a Whig, served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1835 to 1839 and in the United States. House during 1839-1843 and 1845-1853. While in the United States House, he opposed the Mexican War. In 1855, he was the unsuccessful American party candidate for governor of Tennessee, losing to Andrew Johnson.
He retired to his plantation from 1855 to 1861. He was elected to the first Confederate House, where he made only one speech but disagreed with Davis over the conduct of the war. He served on special committees and, like many congressmen from occupied states, he was often absent without leave.
In 1864, he was captured by federal troops while home in Tennessee. Impoverished after the war, he settled on his farm at College Grove.
Achievements
Politics
While in the United States House, Gentry opposed the Mexican War and refused to support Winfield Scott for president in 1852. Gentry was a unionist until friends and family persuaded him to support secession.
Gentry stood strongly against a Bank of Tennessee, asserting that the prerogatives conferred might sometime redound to the public injury - a stance that foreshadowed his opposition to a powerful presidency.
Personality
Meredith was a magnificent orator, adroit in debates, scathing in satire, master of the mot juste, was fiercely independent, a partisan unfettered by strictest ties of loyalty. Therein lies an irony: impelled by conviction and caught by circumstance, he seceded - first from the party, then from the country.
Connections
Gentry's first wife was Emily Saunders, with whom he had two daughters, Mary and Emily. His second wife was Caledonia Brown, they had two sons, Albert and Charles.