The New Student's Reference Work/Crittenden, John Jordan

Crit′tenden, John Jordan, was born in Woodford County, Ky., Sept. 10, 1787. He graduated at William and Mary College, Virginia, studied law, and became famous as a criminal lawyer. He served many times in the Kentucky legislature, was six times chosen senator of the United States, and served one term as representative in Congress and one term as governor of Kentucky. He also was attorney-general under Presidents Harrison and Fillmore. He was most prominent just before and during the Civil War. He opposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; in the Kansas troubles he sided against the course of Presidents Pierce and Buchanan; when Lincoln was elected he took firm ground for the Union; and in 1860 he proposed amendments to the constitution which, he thought, would allay strife. He strenuously sought to keep Kentucky in the Union, but was unwilling that slaves should be used as soldiers. He remained in public life to the close of his career, being in the midst of a campaign for re-election to Congress when he died near Frankfort, Ky., July 26, 1863.