Christopher Greenup

Christopher Greenup

Christopher Greenup (* 1750 in Loudoun County , Colony of Virginia , † April 27, 1818 in Frankfort , Kentucky ) was an American politician ( Democratic Republican Party ) and governor of the state of Kentucky, which he also represented in the US House of Representatives .

Early years

The exact date of birth of Christopher Greenup is unknown. However, American historians assume that he was born in 1750. During the Revolutionary War , he was a colonel in the Virginia Militia and Continental Army . He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1783. He then practiced as a lawyer in Fayette County , which is now part of Kentucky, but was then part of Virginia. From 1785 Greenup was politically active. That year he became a member of the Virginia House of Representatives . He was also present at three of a total of ten conventions at which the western parts of Virginia discussed their own state. The result was the emergence of the state of Kentucky and its admission to the Union on June 1, 1792. From 1792 to 1797 he represented the second constituency of the new state as a member of the US House of Representatives. After a brief interlude in the Kentucky House of Representatives , he was an official ( clerk ) in the Senate of that state from 1799 to 1802 . From 1802 to 1804 he was district judge of Frankfort.

Kentucky governor

In 1800 he applied unsuccessfully for the office of governor; he was defeated in runner-up James Garrard . Four years later he ran unopposed and was Garrard's successor. Greenup was committed to improving Kentucky's infrastructure. So he planned a canal in Louisville to bypass the Ohio waterfalls with ships. He was concerned with the expansion of the waterways, especially after the Mississippi had been opened as an inland waterway for regular shipping. This enabled goods to be conveniently shipped across the Mississippi to New Orleans and from there worldwide. A state-owned bank was also set up in Frankfort during his tenure. Greenup also made sure that the public offices were filled with trustworthy people.

After the end of his tenure in 1808 he became a lawyer again. Four years later he was a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County . He also served a brief tenure as Secretary of State of Kentucky between February 4 and March 13, 1813 . From the beginning he was a member of the board of trustees of Transylvania University in Lexington . Christopher Greenup died in Frankfort on April 27, 1818. He was married to Mary Catherine Pope, with whom he had two children.

According to him, Greenup County named in Kentucky.

Web links

Commons : Christopher Greenup  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Christopher Greenup in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Christopher Greenup in the National Governors Association (English)
• Christopher Greenup in the database of Find a Grave (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State: Christopher Greenup (English).