Charles S. Morehead

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Charles Slaughter Morehead (July 7, 1802 – December 21, 1868) was the twentieth governor of Kentucky.

[edit] Personal life

Morehead was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, the son of Charles Morehead and Margaret Morehead nee Slaughter. He graduated from Transylvania College with a bachelor’s degree in 1820 and a law degree in 1822. He worked as a lawyer in Christian County and then in Franklin County. He was married twice; first to Amanda Leavy, then to her sister Margaret Leavy. He had four children. He is buried at the Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

[edit] Political career

Morehead was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1828 as a Whig. He then served as State Attorney General from 1830 to 1835. He served again in the state house in 1832-1842 and 1844; he was elected Speaker three times. Morehead served as a Kentucky representative in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1847 until March 3, 1851.

Morehead was elected governor as a Know-Nothing in 1855 over Democrat Beverly L. Clark, 69,816 votes to 65,413. His term began September 4, 1855 and ended on August 30, 1859.

During the Civil War, Morehead was imprisoned for four months on charges of sedition (due to his Confederate sympathies), and then lived abroad until the end of the war. He moved to Mississippi, and remained there until his death.