Washington Barrow

January 5, 1817 (age 49)

Davidson County, Tennessee, United States

Soon forsaking the practise of law, he turned to politics, in which he was at first a Jacksonian Democrat but later joined the increasing number of Tennesseans who were dissatisfied with the long and rigid domination of Andrew Jackson's followers in Tennessee politics and were then engaged in organizing the Whig party in the state. In 1835 the Whigs gained control of the state and in 1840 a Whig president was elected. Barrow was then rewarded for his political activities by an appointment as American chargé d'affaires at Lisbon, where he served from 1841 to 1844. When he returned to his native state he became editor of the Republican Banner of Nashville, the chief newspaper of the opposition party, and in 1847 he was elected and served one term as a Whig member of Congress from the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's own district. Barrow next appeared in public life as a state senator, and with Gustavus A. Henry and A. O. W. Totten was appointed by Gov. Isham G. Harris to negotiate a "Military League" with the Confederacy. The commissioners agreed with Henry W. Hilliard of Alabama, Confederate agent, upon an arrangement which was ratified on the same day (May 7, 1861) by the legislature and Tennessee thus became a virtual member of the Confederacy, a month before the ordinance of secession was adopted by popular vote. Barrow took no further active part in the Civil War but remaining in Nashville as a neutral when it was occupied by the Federal troops, he was placed under arrest by Andrew Johnson, then military governor by President Lincoln's appointment. After a brief detention in the state penitentiary he was released by direction of President Lincoln and later went to St. Louis, where he died soon after the close of the Civil War.

Washington Barrow

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politician statesman

Background

He ws born on October 5, 1817, in Davidson County, Tennessee, the son of a North Carolina emigrant, one of the early settlers of the Middle Tennessee region.

Education

After a few year of so-called "classical education" in Davidson Academy, he "read law" as was then the custom and was admitted to the bar.

Career

Soon forsaking the practise of law, he turned to politics, in which he was at first a Jacksonian Democrat but later joined the increasing number of Tennesseans who were dissatisfied with the long and rigid domination of Andrew Jackson's followers in Tennessee politics and were then engaged in organizing the Whig party in the state. In 1835 the Whigs gained control of the state and in 1840 a Whig president was elected.

Barrow was then rewarded for his political activities by an appointment as American chargé d'affaires at Lisbon, where he served from 1841 to 1844. When he returned to his native state he became editor of the Republican Banner of Nashville, the chief newspaper of the opposition party, and in 1847 he was elected and served one term as a Whig member of Congress from the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's own district.

Barrow next appeared in public life as a state senator, and with Gustavus A. Henry and A. O. W. Totten was appointed by Gov. Isham G. Harris to negotiate a "Military League" with the Confederacy. The commissioners agreed with Henry W. Hilliard of Alabama, Confederate agent, upon an arrangement which was ratified on the same day (May 7, 1861) by the legislature and Tennessee thus became a virtual member of the Confederacy, a month before the ordinance of secession was adopted by popular vote.

Barrow took no further active part in the Civil War but remaining in Nashville as a neutral when it was occupied by the Federal troops, he was placed under arrest by Andrew Johnson, then military governor by President Lincoln's appointment. After a brief detention in the state penitentiary he was released by direction of President Lincoln and later went to St. Louis, where he died soon after the close of the Civil War.

Achievements

He is best known as a member of the Confederate faction of the Tennessee Senate.

Politics

For one term he served as a Whig member of Congress.

Personality

He was a man of great ability.

Connections

He married Anna Marian Shelby, daughter of Dr. John Shelby, one of the state's wealthiest men.

Father:: Wylie Barrow
Mother:: Ann Beck Barrow
Wife:: Anna Marian Shelby

References

History of Davidson County, Tennessee, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent men and Pioneers

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