US Congressman, US Senator, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. A lawyer and member of the Kentucky State Bar Association, in 1810 he was elected as a Democratic Republican to represent Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Congressman Benjamin Howard, who had been appointed by President James Madison to serve as Governor of the Louisiana Territory. William T. Barry served from 1810 to 1811. When the War of 1812 began he volunteered his service, and served as an Aide-de-Camp to Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby, who led Kentucky’s militia. After his military service he was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature, and in 1814 was elected as a Senator to the United State Senate after Senator George M. Bibb died in office. Serving in the Senate from 1815 to 1816, he resigned from the office after being appointed as a Circuit Judge. He returned to the Kentucky Legislature in 1817, and served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor from 1820 to 1824. After an unsuccessful bid for Kentucky’s Governorship in 1828, President Andrew Jackson appointed him United States Postmaster General in 1829. He served until 1835, and was the only member of President Jackson’s Cabinet to remain in office after the “Petticoat Affair” scandal that involved the wives of Secretary of War John Eaton and Vice President John C. Calhoun induced the rest of the cabinet secretaries to resign. In 1835 President Jackson appointed him United States Ambassador to Spain, but while en route to his post he died in August 1835 in London, England.
US Congressman, US Senator, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. A lawyer and member of the Kentucky State Bar Association, in 1810 he was elected as a Democratic Republican to represent Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Congressman Benjamin Howard, who had been appointed by President James Madison to serve as Governor of the Louisiana Territory. William T. Barry served from 1810 to 1811. When the War of 1812 began he volunteered his service, and served as an Aide-de-Camp to Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby, who led Kentucky’s militia. After his military service he was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature, and in 1814 was elected as a Senator to the United State Senate after Senator George M. Bibb died in office. Serving in the Senate from 1815 to 1816, he resigned from the office after being appointed as a Circuit Judge. He returned to the Kentucky Legislature in 1817, and served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor from 1820 to 1824. After an unsuccessful bid for Kentucky’s Governorship in 1828, President Andrew Jackson appointed him United States Postmaster General in 1829. He served until 1835, and was the only member of President Jackson’s Cabinet to remain in office after the “Petticoat Affair” scandal that involved the wives of Secretary of War John Eaton and Vice President John C. Calhoun induced the rest of the cabinet secretaries to resign. In 1835 President Jackson appointed him United States Ambassador to Spain, but while en route to his post he died in August 1835 in London, England.
Bio by: RPD2
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