Letcher, Robert Perkins, 1788-1861

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Robert Perkins Letcher was governor of Kentucky during 1840-1844. After his term ended, Letcher practiced law in Frankfort and remained active in politics. From 1850 to 1852, he served as U.S. minister to Mexico where his proposed treaties sought to protect American interests in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

From the description of Robert Perkins Letcher papers, 1844-1853. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 38555012

Kentucky lawyer, state legislator, U.S. congressman, and governor, 1840-1844.

From the description of Robert Perkins Letcher : miscellaneous papers, 1830-1841. (Filson Historical Society, The). WorldCat record id: 49244855

Kentucky politician.

Letcher, a lawyer from Lancaster, Ky., served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1813 to 1815, and again in 1817. In 1823, he was elected to the U.S. Congress as a (Henry) Clay Democrat; later he was affiliated with the Whig party. After leaving Congress in 1835, he returned to the Kentucky House, and in 1938 became Speaker. In 1840, he was elected governor of Kentucky. Upon leaving office in 1844, he practiced law until 1849, when he was appointed envoy to Mexico. He returned to Kentucky in 1852 to make another bid for Congress, but was defeated by John C. Breckinridge. He retired to private life and his law practice. He died in 1861.

From the description of Robert Perkins Letcher letters, 1825-1845. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 13619559

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875. Broadside, 1853 May 31. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Letter book, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Military correspondence, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Appointments by the governor - military appointments, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Appointments by the governor - commonwealth's attorney appointments, 1842-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Hunter, William, 1805-1886. Letter, 1852 March 21, Georgetown, to Daniel Webster [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Executive minute books, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Beall-Booth family. Beall-Booth family papers, 1778-1956. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Governor's correspondence, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
creatorOf Letcher, Robert Perkins, 1788-1861. Robert Perkins Letcher : miscellaneous papers, 1830-1841. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. Letters of Henry Clay [manuscript] 1813-1850. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Boone, Nathan. Removal of Daniel Boone's remains : letters, acts, and photostats, 1845-1937. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Requisitions for the return of fugitives from justice, 1842-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Jones family. Jones family : papers, 1844-1969. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Executive journals, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Petitions for pardons and remissions, 1841-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Special studies and reports to the governor, 1841-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
creatorOf Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. Letter : Ashland, to Robert Perkins Letcher, Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky, 1837 August 5. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Brown, Orlando, 1801-1867. Papers, 1819-1866 (bulk 1849-1850). Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Enrolled bills, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Finnell, John William, 1821-1888. Letter to Orlando Brown [manuscript], 1849 August 22. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Subunit history. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Savary, Henry. Henry Savary papers, 1827-1856, 1838-1856 (bulk dates). University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Peter H. Burnett papers, 1849-1885 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Wickliffe, C. A. (Charles Anderson), 1788-1869. Charles Anderson Wickliffe : miscellaneous papers, 1826-1863. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Winston-Jones family : papers, 1787-1889. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Letcher, Robert Perkins, 1788-1861. Robert Perkins Letcher letters, 1825-1845. University of Kentucky Libraries
creatorOf Letcher, Robert Perkins, 1788-1861. Robert Perkins Letcher papers, 1844-1853. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Appointments by the governor - civil appointments, 1840-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn Dornin, Thomas Aloysius, 1800-1874. Letterbook of Thomas Aloysius Dornin, 1842-1854. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn John J. Crittenden Papers, 1782-1913, (bulk 1841-1888) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Miller, Francis Hegan, 1874-1950. Collection, 1780-1874. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Drake, Daniel, 1785-1852. Papers, 1820-1849. Duke University, Medical Center Library & Archives
referencedIn Metcalfe, Thomas, 1780-1855. Thomas Metcalfe letters, 1807-1841, 1821-1841 (bulk dates). University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher). Apprehension of fugitives from justice papers, 1841-1844. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
creatorOf Letcher, Robert Perkins, 1788-1861. Letter, 1843 November 7, Frankfort, Ky., to Daniel Webster, Boston. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Brown, Orlando, 1801-1867. Orlando Brown papers 1789-1885. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Underwood, Joseph R. (Joseph Rogers), 1791-1876. Joseph R. Underwood : miscellaneous papers, 1813-1867. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Taylor-Cannon family. Taylor-Cannon family papers, 1741-1949. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn United States, Secretary of State. Letter, 1843 October. American Periodical Series I
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barr, George Edward. person
correspondedWith Beall-Booth family. person
correspondedWith Benjamin, J. P. (Judah Philip), 1811-1884 person
associatedWith Blair, Francis Preston, 1791-1876. person
associatedWith Boone, Nathan. person
associatedWith Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875. person
associatedWith Brown, Orlando, 1801-1867. person
associatedWith Burnett, Peter H. (Peter Hardeman), 1807-1895 person
associatedWith Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850. person
associatedWith Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. person
associatedWith Clayton, John M. (John Middleton), 1796-1856. person
associatedWith Combs, Leslie, 1793-1881. person
correspondedWith Crittenden, John J. (John Jordan), 1787-1863. person
associatedWith Crittendon, John Jordan, 1787-1863. person
associatedWith Dornin, Thomas Aloysius, 1800-1874. person
associatedWith Drake, Daniel, 1785-1852. person
associatedWith Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874. person
associatedWith Finnell, John William, 1821-1888. person
associatedWith Hargous, L. S. person
associatedWith Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841. person
associatedWith Hunter, William, 1805-1886. person
associatedWith Jones family. family
associatedWith Kentucky. General Assembly. corporateBody
associatedWith Kentucky. Governor (1840-1844 : Letcher) corporateBody
associatedWith Metcalfe, Thomas, 1780-1855. person
associatedWith Miller, Francis Hegan, 1874-1950. person
associatedWith Rappleye, Matilde. person
associatedWith Rappleye, Nicolas. person
associatedWith Savary, Henry. person
correspondedWith Scott, H. L., fl. 1853 person
associatedWith Southard, Samuel L. (Samuel Lewis), 1787-1842. person
associatedWith Taylor-Cannon family. person
associatedWith Underwood, Joseph R. (Joseph Rogers), 1791-1876. person
associatedWith United States, Secretary of State. corporateBody
associatedWith Villalon, Francisco. person
correspondedWith Washington, George Corbin, 1789-1854 person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith Wickliffe, C. A. (Charles Anderson), 1788-1869. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Kentucky
United States
United States
United States
Kentucky
Mexico
Subject
Ambassadors
Deeds
Governor
Governors
Legislators
Presidents
Occupation
Politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1788-02-10

Death 1861-01-24

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SNAC ID: 37452205