Thomas Hart Benton was depicted on the United States 100 dollar gold certificate from 1870 through the 1920s. This is recognition was in part due to the fact that Benton was a major supporter in putting gold into circulation with the “Specie Circular” documentation in Congress. This is where he received the nickname “Old Bullion.”
He was born in 1782 near Hillsboro, North Carolina. His life in Missouri began in 1815 when he moved to St. Louis and edited the “St. Louis Enquirer.” He had a checkered relationship with Andrew Jackson, once challenging him in a duel. From 1824, Old Bullion would support Old Hickory. Benton would be instrumental in the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren.
Benton would be elected Senator from Missouri in 1820 with one vote to spare. For the next thirty years, Thomas Hart Benton would be base for politics not only in Missouri but the nation. When interest grew with “Oregon Fever” Benton was a supporter of the 49th parallel boundary. Thomas Hart Benton was focused on manifest destiny. He first saw the Rocky Mountains to be the natural border, but would expand his view to the Pacific Ocean.
He was instrumental with railroads, pony express, telegraph, the displacement of Native Americans, and would become a voice against slavery. This final view would bring his end in politics. Those pro-slavery in Missouri would remove their support of Benton and after being a Senator, a Representative, running for Governor, Benton would end his political career and die in 1858.
He was born in 1782 near Hillsboro, North Carolina. His life in Missouri began in 1815 when he moved to St. Louis and edited the “St. Louis Enquirer.” He had a checkered relationship with Andrew Jackson, once challenging him in a duel. From 1824, Old Bullion would support Old Hickory. Benton would be instrumental in the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren.
Benton would be elected Senator from Missouri in 1820 with one vote to spare. For the next thirty years, Thomas Hart Benton would be base for politics not only in Missouri but the nation. When interest grew with “Oregon Fever” Benton was a supporter of the 49th parallel boundary. Thomas Hart Benton was focused on manifest destiny. He first saw the Rocky Mountains to be the natural border, but would expand his view to the Pacific Ocean.
He was instrumental with railroads, pony express, telegraph, the displacement of Native Americans, and would become a voice against slavery. This final view would bring his end in politics. Those pro-slavery in Missouri would remove their support of Benton and after being a Senator, a Representative, running for Governor, Benton would end his political career and die in 1858.
As a lawyer and politician, Benton would become involved in the functioning of life in St. Louis. Editing the St. Louis Enquirer gave him the ability to express his views on the issues of the day, as was the case with Jackson, gold specie, and more. Paper money did not appeal to him, nor did the doomed Bank of the United States. He saw the annexation of Texas as a risk the United States should not take. He feared that Mexico would retaliate, bringing a devastating blow to the silver supply. Although he served as a senator from a slave state, Benton thought it would be problematic for the nation to add another slave state in the form of Texas. This brought frustration against Benton in the citizenry of Missouri. He had been viewed as a man of the people, but also had connections with those in power, as was the case with the St. Louis Clique, a group of prominent individuals in the Gateway city.
Benton's focus on western concerns gave him support of the outlying citizenry. He worked toward the settling of old Spanish land grants to help the western farmers. He promoted Manifest Destiny and the increase of land in the southwest and northwest. Although at times Benton conflicted with Andrew Jackson, both were strong advocates of "hard money," or the use of precious metals as the standard to maintain the nation's economy, and the Missouri senator would be the author of the Age of Jackson in Missouri.
It would be Benton's views on Texas that would lead to his distance from the Missouri voting public. These views and the whole issue of slavery would bring to the loss of the senatorial seat Benton had held for nearly thirty years. He would win one term in the House of Representatives in 1852 but would lose that seat at re-election. In 1856 he ran for the governorship of Missouri but lost to Trusten Polk. He would die in Washington, D.C. in 1858.
Benton's focus on western concerns gave him support of the outlying citizenry. He worked toward the settling of old Spanish land grants to help the western farmers. He promoted Manifest Destiny and the increase of land in the southwest and northwest. Although at times Benton conflicted with Andrew Jackson, both were strong advocates of "hard money," or the use of precious metals as the standard to maintain the nation's economy, and the Missouri senator would be the author of the Age of Jackson in Missouri.
It would be Benton's views on Texas that would lead to his distance from the Missouri voting public. These views and the whole issue of slavery would bring to the loss of the senatorial seat Benton had held for nearly thirty years. He would win one term in the House of Representatives in 1852 but would lose that seat at re-election. In 1856 he ran for the governorship of Missouri but lost to Trusten Polk. He would die in Washington, D.C. in 1858.