Benton, Thomas Hart

Thomas Hart (1782-1858), a native of North Carolina. He was a member of the Tennessee legislature and served as a colonel in the War of 1812. He moved to Missouri to engage in newspaper work. He served that state as a United States Senator from 1821 to 1851. During his lifetime he published his Thirty Years' View, a historical retrospect of the period during which he sat in the Senate. While his rank was subordinate to that of Clay, Calhoun, and Webster, his career was open and honorable. He was an ardent supporter of Jackson in the famous nullification contest with Calhoun. His efforts in support of sound money won him the nickname of "Old Bullion." He favored the extension of slavery. He failed in an attempt to harmonize the views of the Northern Democracy with those of the Southern wing, and consequently lost prestige and fell out of politics. See Fremont; Douglas