Meredith Miles Marmaduke
Encyclopedia
Meredith Miles Marmaduke (August 28, 1791 – March 26, 1864) was Missouri
's eighth Governor, serving in 1844. He was a Democrat
. He was also Lieutenant Governor of Missouri 1840–1844.
, on August 28, 1791. He was educated in the public schools, and at twenty-two years of age, was commissioned as colonel
of the regiment that was raised in his county in the War of 1812
. Returning to Virginia
after the war, he was appointed United States Marshal
for the eastern district of Virginia, served for several years in that office, and was subsequently elected clerk of the circuit court. He immigrated to Missouri for his health, was engaged in the Santa Fe Trail
trade for six years in Howard County, and then settled near Arrow Rock
, where he became a successful farmer.
In 1826 Marmaduke married Lavinia Sappington, the daughter of Dr. John Sappington, a prominent pioneer physician of Saline County, and for a brief time became a partner in his father-in-law's enterprises. Sappington was famous for his use of quinine
to treat malaria
fevers.
A Democrat, Marmaduke served as Saline County surveyor
and county judge, was elected lieutenant governor of Missouri in 1840, assuming the duties of governor when Governor Thomas Reynolds
committed suicide
in 1844. Marmaduke was a member of the 1845 Missouri Constitutional Convention and in 1854, became president of the State Agricultural Society and of the district fair association.
During the Civil War
Marmaduke was a fierce Union
supporter. One son, Confederate
General John Sappington Marmaduke
, was Missouri's 25th governor (1885–1887) and another, Henry Hungerford Marmaduke, served as a gunner in the Confederate Navy
aboard the ironclad Merrimac
. The Marmadukes had ten children, two of whom died in battle during the Civil War.
Marmaduke died March 26, 1864 and is buried at Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site
near Arrow Rock, Missouri.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
's eighth Governor, serving in 1844. He was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He was also Lieutenant Governor of Missouri 1840–1844.
Life and career
Meredith Miles Marmaduke was born in Westmoreland County, VirginiaWestmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
, on August 28, 1791. He was educated in the public schools, and at twenty-two years of age, was commissioned as colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the regiment that was raised in his county in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Returning to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
after the war, he was appointed United States Marshal
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
for the eastern district of Virginia, served for several years in that office, and was subsequently elected clerk of the circuit court. He immigrated to Missouri for his health, was engaged in the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
trade for six years in Howard County, and then settled near Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock, Missouri
Arrow Rock is a village in Saline County, Missouri, United States. The population was 79 as of the 2000 Census . The musical Tom Sawyer , based on the novel by Mark Twain, was filmed here. Arrow Rock Historic District has significant properties and the George Caleb Bingham House has been designated...
, where he became a successful farmer.
In 1826 Marmaduke married Lavinia Sappington, the daughter of Dr. John Sappington, a prominent pioneer physician of Saline County, and for a brief time became a partner in his father-in-law's enterprises. Sappington was famous for his use of quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
to treat malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
fevers.
A Democrat, Marmaduke served as Saline County surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
and county judge, was elected lieutenant governor of Missouri in 1840, assuming the duties of governor when Governor Thomas Reynolds
Thomas Reynolds (Governor)
Thomas Reynolds was the seventh Governor of Missouri from 1840 to 1844. He belonged to the Democratic Party....
committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in 1844. Marmaduke was a member of the 1845 Missouri Constitutional Convention and in 1854, became president of the State Agricultural Society and of the district fair association.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Marmaduke was a fierce Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
supporter. One son, Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General John Sappington Marmaduke
John S. Marmaduke
John Sappington Marmaduke was a career military man and a West Point graduate. He is known for his service as a Confederate Major general during the American Civil War...
, was Missouri's 25th governor (1885–1887) and another, Henry Hungerford Marmaduke, served as a gunner in the Confederate Navy
Confederate States Navy
The Confederate States Navy was the naval branch of the Confederate States armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the American Civil War...
aboard the ironclad Merrimac
CSS Virginia
CSS Virginia was the first steam-powered ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy, built during the first year of the American Civil War; she was constructed as a casemate ironclad using the raised and cut down original lower hull and steam engines of the scuttled . Virginia was one of the...
. The Marmadukes had ten children, two of whom died in battle during the Civil War.
Marmaduke died March 26, 1864 and is buried at Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site
Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site
Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site in Saline County, Missouri, is maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as a state historic site.- See also:* Meredith Miles Marmaduke* Claiborne Fox Jackson...
near Arrow Rock, Missouri.