CHRISTOPHER GREENUP

'Christopher Greenup' (c. 1750 – April 27, 1818) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative and Governor of Kentucky. Little is known about his early life; the first reliable records about him are documents recording his service in the Revolutionary War where he served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army and a colonel in the Virginia militia.
Following his service in the war, Greenup helped settle the trans-Appalachian regions of Virginia. He became actively involved in politics, and played an active role in three of the ten statehood conventions that secured the separation of Kentucky from Virginia in 1792. He became one of the state's first representatives, and served in the Kentucky General Assembly before being elected governor in a race where, due to his immense popularity, he ran unopposed. His term in office was marred by accusations that he had participated in the Spanish Conspiracy to align Kentucky with Spain prior to the former's separation from Virginia, but he vigorously and successfully rebutted these charges.
Following his term as governor, Greenup became less active in the political arena. He died in Frankfort, Kentucky on April 27, 1818. Greenup County, Kentucky and its county seat were both named in honor of Governor Greenup.

Contents

Early life in Virginia

Political career in Kentucky

Later life and death

References

Footnotes

External links

Early life in Virginia

Christopher Greenup was most likely born in Loudoun County, Virginia around 1750. His parents' names are unknown.Harrison, p. 388 He learned surveying and studied law under Colonel Charles Binns.NGA Bio He served in the Revolutionary War, attaining the rank of colonel in the Virginia militia and of lieutenant in the Continental Army.
In 1781, Greenup helped settle the area now known as Lincoln County, Kentucky where he practiced law and spent time as a surveyor and a land speculator. He was admitted to practice in the county court in 1782. Following Virginia's creation of Kentucky County in 1783, he was admitted to the bar of the district court of Harrodsburg, and served as clerk from 1785 to 1792.Hopkins, p. 12
Greenup served as clerk of the first Kentucky statehood convention in Danville in 1784, and in 1785, served a single term in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was elected as a delegate to the second and sixth statehood conventions in 1785 and 1788, respectively.Powell, p. 18 During this time, he also practiced law in Fayette County.
On July 9, 1787, he married Mary Catherine Pope of Hanover County, Virginia; the couple had two children – Nancy and William. Also in 1787, he joined the Kentucky Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge. In 1789, he helped organize the Kentucky Manufacturing Society. Later, he was appointed to the Kentucky River Company, a group dedicated to improving the Kentucky River.

Political career in Kentucky

When Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792, he moved to Frankfort where he was rewarded for his efforts on behalf of the state by being chosen as an elector for the state's senators. Following this, Greenup was appointed to the court of oyer and terminer, but resigned immediately to accept a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.Harrison, p. 389 He was one of Kentucky's first two representatives in the House, and was elected to three successive terms, serving from November 9, 1792 to March 3, 1797. In 1798, he was elected to the Kentucky General Assembly, representing Mercer County.Hopkins, p. 13 He also served as clerk of the state senate from 1799 to 1802.
Greenup was a candidate for governor of Kentucky in 1800, but lost to James Garrard in a four-man race. He was appointed judge of the circuit court in 1802, but resigned the post two years later to make another run for the governorship. Immensely popular, Greenup ran unopposed, and served from September 4, 1804 to September 1, 1808. During his administration, the state chartered the Bank of Kentucky and the Ohio Canal Company. A Frankfort newspaper implicated Greenup in the Spanish Conspiracy, but he successfully defended himself and preserved his reputation.

Later life and death

Following his term as governor, Greenup was a presidential elector on the ticket of James Madison. In 1812, he became a justice of the peace in Franklin County, Kentucky. He was one of the original trustees of Transylvania University.
Greenup died in Frankfort, Kentucky, and is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. Greenup County, Kentucky, was named in honor of him, as was its county seat of Greenup, Kentucky.

References

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★ ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'', , Lowell H., Harrison, The University Press of Kentucky, 1992,

★ ''Kentucky's Governors'', , James F., Hopkins, The University Press of Kentucky, 2004,

★ Kentucky Governor Christopher Greenup

★ ''Kentucky Governors'', , Robert A., Powell, Bluegrass Printing Company, 1976,

Footnotes

The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress gives Greenup's place of birth as Westmoreland County, Virginia.

Hopkins states that Greenup's will included six children – two sons and four daughters.

External links

★ Christopher Greenup at The Political Graveyard

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