Alexander William Doniphan (July 9, 1808–August 8, 1887) was a noted 19th century American politician and soldier. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1808 ( MDCCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
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Early life
Doniphan was born in Mason County, Kentucky to Joseph and Anne (Smith) Doniphan, natives of Virginia. Mason County is a County located in the US state of Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state He graduated from Augusta College in 1824, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. Note this is also a former name of Augusta State University in Georgia. Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year A bar association is a Professional body of Lawyers Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their Jurisdiction For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display He began his law practice in Lexington, Missouri. Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. Doniphan soon moved to Liberty, Missouri, where he was a successful lawyer. Liberty is a city in Clay County Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City Missouri. He served in the state legislature in 1836, 1840, and 1854, representing the Whig Party. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year The Whig Party was a Political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy.
Military career
By 1838, Doniphan had been elected to the rank of brigadier general in the Missouri state militia. Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Leading a force of state troops, he arrested the prophet Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and other church leaders and ordered them to leave Missouri. Please see the talk page for this article and the "See also" list before adding content or adding a hyphen to Latter Day Saint However, he disobeyed his orders to execute Smith and prevented vigilante forces from harming any of the Mormon leaders. TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon
In 1846, at the beginning of the Mexican-American War Doniphan became colonel of the 1st Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and served in several campaigns, including Stephen W. Kearny's capture of Santa Fe and an invasion of northern Mexico. Stephen Watts Kearny (IPA; "Kar-ney" ( August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848) was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers Santa Fe ( Navajo: Yootó is the Capital of the state of New Mexico. His men won the Battle of El Brazito (outside modern day El Paso, Texas) and again at the Battle of the Sacramento, enabling the capture of the city of Chihuahua. The Battle of El Brazito took place on December 25, 1846, early in the Mexican-American war. The Battle of the Sacramento took place on February 28, 1847 during the Mexican-American War. Chihuahua is the name of both a state in Mexico and that state's capital city
Return to civilian life
After the Mexican-American War, Doniphan was appointed by General Kearny to write a code of civil laws (known as the “Kearny code”) in both English and Spanish. Stephen Watts Kearny (IPA; "Kar-ney" ( August 30, 1794 October 31, 1848) was one of the foremost antebellum frontier officers The Kearny Code is a Legal code named after General Stephen W It was to be used in the lands annexed from Mexico.
Doniphan was a moderate in the events leading up to the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South He opposed secession and favored neutrality for Missouri. Although a slaveholder, Doniphan advocated the gradual elimination of slavery. This was in response to proposals of the Republican Party to make emancipation immediate, without compensation to the slaveowners or any preparation of the slaves for life as free men.
Doniphan attended a Peace Conference at Washington D. C. in February 1861, but returned home frustrated at its inability to solve the crisis. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D He was offered a colonel's commission in the Missouri State Guard, but turned it down. The Missouri State Guard (MSG was a state Militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. He was also offered high rank in the Union Army, but refused to fight against the South. In 1863 he moved to St. Louis and remained there for the rest of the war.
In the late 1860s, Doniphan re-opened his law office in Richmond, Missouri, where he died at the age of 79. Richmond is a city in Ray County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6116 at the 2000 census He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Liberty under an obelisk.
Doniphan had married Elizabeth Jane Thornton in 1838 and fathered two sons, neither of whom lived past age 18. Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
Legacy
- Doniphan County, Kansas was created and named for him in 1855. Doniphan County (county code DP) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. So is the town of Doniphan, Missouri. Doniphan is a city in Ripley County, Missouri, United States.
- Alexander Doniphan is honored by the Mormons for saving the life of Joseph Smith and other early church leaders.
- The American Legion Boys State of Missouri named Doniphan City one of their divisions in his honor. For other uses of American Legion see American Legion (disambiguation The American Legion was chartered by the U Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for High
- An avenue in El Paso is named for Doniphan, from the Battle of El Brazito fought near the city. The Battle of El Brazito took place on December 25, 1846, early in the Mexican-American war.
- Missouri Highway 152 is named in his honor, Alexander Doniphan Hwy.
- Camp Doniphan, a camp set up for the buildup of World War I next to Fort Sill, outside of Lawton, Oklahoma. Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
External links
- Marker to Doniphan in Clay Co., MO
- Doniphan biography on Kansas "bogus legislature" site
- Doniphan in Columbia Encyclopedia
- Speaking of History Podcast with audio of John Dillingham speech on the life of Alexander Doniphan, presented at the Truman Presidential Library in May, 2007
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