Hancock Lee Jackson (May 12, 1796March 19, 1876) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 13th Governor of Missouri in 1857.

Biography

Jackson was born in

Madison County, Kentucky Madison County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Kentucky. At the 2020 census, its population was 92,701. Its county seat is Richmond. The county is named for Virginia statesman James Madison, who later became the fo ...

on May 12, 1796. He was educated in the county schools and became a farmer. Hancock Lee’s father was John Jackson and his brother was Jarvis Jackson Jr. John and Jarvis Jr. later sold the land that would become

Laurel County, Kentucky Laurel County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 62,613. Its county seat is London. After a special election in January 2016 alcohol sales are permitted only ...

. He moved to

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

in 1821, and continued to farm. In 1829 he entered politics as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

when he became sheriff of

Randolph County Randolph County is the name of eight counties in the United States: *Randolph County, Alabama *Randolph County, Arkansas *Randolph County, Georgia *Randolph County, Illinois *Randolph County, Indiana *Randolph County, Missouri *Randolph County, Nort ...

, a position he held for two terms. He also served as a delegate to the 1845 Missouri Constitutional Convention, During the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

, he raised a company of volunteers and was elected commander with the rank of captain. As part of

Sterling Price Major-General Sterling "Old Pap" Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the American Civil War. Prior to ...

's 2nd Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, he served primarily in

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

, and fought in campaigns in

Taos Taos or TAOS may refer to: Places * Taos, Missouri, a city in Cole County, Missouri, United States * Taos County, New Mexico, United States ** Taos, New Mexico, a city, the county seat of Taos County, New Mexico *** Taos art colony, an art colo ...

, including the

Taos Revolt The Taos Revolt was a populist insurrection in January 1847 by Hispano and Pueblo allies against the United States' occupation of present-day northern New Mexico during the Mexican–American War. Provisional governor Charles Bent and severa ...

. Jackson served in the

Missouri State Senate The Missouri Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 174,000. Its members serve four-year terms, with half the seats being up for election every two yea ...

from 1851 to 1855, and was Lieutenant Governor from 1857 to 1861. In February 1857 Governor Trusten Polk resigned to accept election to the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

, and Jackson acted as Governor pending the selection of a new Governor in a special election.

Robert Marcellus Stewart Robert Marcellus Stewart (March 12, 1815 – September 21, 1871) was the 14th Governor of Missouri from 1857 to 1861, during the critical years just prior to the American Civil War. Early years Stewart was born in Truxton, New York, but mov ...

won the October contest to complete Polk's term, and Jackson resumed his duties as Lieutenant Governor. In 1860 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor, losing to

Claiborne Fox Jackson Claiborne Fox Jackson (April 4, 1806 – December 6, 1862) was an American politician of the Democratic Party in Missouri. He was elected as the 15th Governor of Missouri, serving from January 3, 1861, until July 31, 1861, when he was for ...

. Claiborne Fox Jackson, the

15th governor of Missouri 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky number, a pernicious nu ...

, is Hancock Lee Jackson’s 3rd cousin. The two share a great grandfather, Joseph Jackson Sr. Jackson was then appointed

United States Marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforc ...

for the Western District of Missouri, a post he held until

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

nominee

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

won the presidency in 1860 and replaced federal appointees with members of his own party after being inaugurated in 1861. Jackson moved to Oregon in 1865, where he continued to farm. He died in Salem on March 19, 1876, and was buried in Salem Pioneer Cemetery.

References

Hancock Lee Jackson
at
National Governors Association
'
Hancock Lee Jackson
at ''Dictionary of Missouri Biography''
Hancock Lee Jackson
at
Missouri Digital Heritage
'
Hancock Lee Jackson
at
Salem Pioneer Cemetery
' Democratic Party governors of Missouri 1796 births 1876 deaths People from Richmond, Kentucky People from Randolph County, Missouri Politicians from Salem, Oregon Democratic Party Missouri state senators Lieutenant Governors of Missouri American military personnel of the Mexican–American War American militia officers Burials at Salem Pioneer Cemetery 19th-century American politicians Lawyers from Salem, Oregon 19th-century American lawyers Military personnel from Oregon {{Missouri-politician-stub