James Barbour

Democratic Republican Senator of Virginia

Senator
Virginia
December 4, 1815 - March 3, 1821
Senator
Virginia
December 3, 1821 - March 27, 1825

Congresses Served

Senate Terms

January 1, 1775 (67 years old)

Birthday

January 1, 1842

Death

Served as a delegate from Orange County, Virginia, in the Virginia General Assembly and as speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Was the 18th Governor of Virginia and the first to reside in the current Virginia Governor’s Mansion.
Became a U.S. Senator after the War of 1812, serving from 1814 to 1825.
Served as the United States Secretary of War from 1825 to 1828.
Was a planter and lawyer by profession.
Came from a family that was among the First Families of Virginia and early settlers in Orange County.
Owned over 2,000 acres and several enslaved people by 1798.
Opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and supported the Virginia Resolutions.
Took pride in writing the bill establishing the Literary Fund of Virginia, which provided some funding for public education.
Supported war with Britain during his tenure as Governor of Virginia to end British interference with U.S. sovereignty.
As U.S. Senator, aligned with Senators John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay on internal improvements and slavery.
Elected President pro tempore of the Senate in 1819 and played a role in the adoption of the Missouri Compromise on slavery.
Served as a diplomat, being appointed as Minister to Great Britain after his tenure as Secretary of War.
Remained active in national politics after returning to Virginia, attending the first national convention of the National Republican Party and becoming its presiding officer.
His health declined in his final months, and he died in Barboursville, Virginia.
Left a legacy that includes the naming of places after him in Virginia, West Virginia, and Alabama, and his involvement in early American politics and education funding.