Meredith Miles Marmaduke (D)

Overview

At a Glance

• Refused to pardon abolitionist Alanson Work for grand larceny for "enticing a slave out of the state"
• Advocated for mental health care in response to Gov. Reynolds' suicide

Personal History

Meredith Miles Marmaduke was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Vincent and Sarah Porter Marmaduke. His career in civil engineering was interrupted in 1812 when he was appointed colonel of a Virginia frontier-defense regiment during the War of 1812. After the war, President James Madison named him U.S. marshal for the Tidewater District, and he later served as Westmoreland County’s circuit clerk.

Marmaduke moved to Franklin, Missouri, in 1823 for health reasons, where he capitalized on opportunities along the Santa Fe Trail, making several trips to Santa Fe from 1824 to the mid-1830s. He married Lavinia Sappington on January 4, 1826; her father, Dr. John S. Sappington, was a well-respected physician and an influential figure in the local community, known for his role in promoting health and civic improvement. By marrying Sappington’s daughter, Marmaduke gained valuable social standing and political connections that facilitated his later appointments and business ventures. He was appointed surveyor of Saline County, platted the town site for Arrow Rock in 1829, and operated a general store in nearby Jonesboro with Sappington. In 1835, he settled on a large farm five miles west of Arrow Rock, where he raised his seven sons and three daughters.

Marmaduke held positions as president of Saline County’s first agricultural society and the district fair association, but the sectional crisis of 1860 compelled him to reenter the political arena. As tensions between North and South intensified leading up to the Civil War, his local prominence and political experience positioned him as a key player in addressing the unfolding issues. In this context, Marmaduke became increasingly involved in the political discussions and decisions pertinent to the crisis, marking his return to a public role during a critical moment in American history.

Marmaduke openly condemned sucessionand, emulating Governor Sam Houston of Texas, cautioned his fellow citizens about the potential consequences of civil strife. He was respected by both contending parties, although he expressed disdain for what he referred to as “thieving” Unionist militiamen and Confederate partisan “bushwhackers.” Marmaduke passed at his Saline County farmstead in 1864 and was buried in the Sappington Cemetery Historic Site, near Arrow Rock.

Political History

Marmaduke aligned himself with the Central Clique, which was emerging as a dominant faction within Missouri’s Democratic Party, leading to his nomination for lieutenant governor in 1840. He assumed office alongside Governor Thomas Reynolds. Following Governor Reynolds’ suicide on February 9, 1844, Marmaduke completed the remaining months of his term.

Gov. Marmaduke did not secure the nomination for a full term at the Democratic state convention that year; the party selected John C. Edwards as a “unity” candidate to succeed him. Despite this setback, Marmaduke continued his political career, being elected in 1845 as Saline County’s delegate to a constitutional convention that attempted to reform the 1820 Constitution.

In 1848, Marmaduke, supported by U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton and campaign manager Frank Blair, sought the gubernatorial nomination once more. However, he was again passed over in favor of compromise candidate Austin A. King, at a convention that reflected the deepening divide between Benton’s “hard” supporters and the “soft” faction increasingly dissatisfied with Benton’s antislavery position.

Historical Significance

Marmaduke exhibited a strong push for mental health care reforms following his predecessor’s suicide. This resulted in significant early improvements in how Missouri addressed mental illness during the subsequent gubernatorial term.