Biography

Senator and a Representative from Missouri. Born at Harts Mill, N.C. Attended Chapel Hill College (University of North Carolina) and admitted to the bar at Nashville, TN in 1806; commenced practice in Franklin, Williamson County, TN. Member of TN State senate 1809-1811 and served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Andrew Jackson. Colonel of a regiment of Tennessee volunteers 1812-1813; lieutenant colonel of the 39th U.S. Infantry 1813-1815. After he moved to St. Louis, MO, where he edited the Missouri Inquirer and continued the practice of law. After Missouri entered the Union as a state, he was elected as a Democratic Republic (later Jacksonian and Democrat) to U.S. Senate in 1821. Reelected in 1827, 1833, 1839, and 1845, serving in total from August 10, 1821 until March 3, 1851. Chairman for Committee on Indian Affairs (18th-20th Congresses), Committee on Military Affairs (20th-26th, 29th, 30th Congresses), Committee on Foreign Relations (30th Congress). Author of the resolution to expunge from the Senate Journal the resolution of censure on Andrew Jackson. Unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Senate in 1850. Censure proceedings were initiated against Benton in 1850, arising from an incident of disorderly conduct on the Chamber floor, but the Senate took no action. Elected as a Democrat to 33rd Congress from 1853-1855. Chairman, Committee on Military Affairs (33rd Congress) and unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1854 to the 34th Congress and for Governor of Missouri in 1856. Engaged in literary pursuits in Washington, D.C., until his death there on April 10, 1858, but interment in St. Louis, MO.