Hancock Lee Jackson (May 12, 1796 – March 19, 1876) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 13th Governor of Missouri in 1857.[1]
Biography
Jackson was born in Madison County, Kentucky on May 12, 1796. He was educated in the county schools and became a farmer. Hancock Lee's father was John Jackson and his brother was Jarvis Jackson Jr. John and Jarvis Jr. later sold the land that would become Laurel County, Kentucky. He moved to Missouri in 1821, and continued to farm. In 1829 he entered politics as a Democrat when he became sheriff of Randolph County, a position he held for two terms. He also served as a delegate to the 1845 Missouri Constitutional Convention,
During the Mexican–American War, he raised a company of volunteers and was elected commander with the rank of captain. As part of Sterling Price's 2nd Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, he served primarily in New Mexico, and fought in campaigns in Taos, including the Taos Revolt.
Jackson served in the Missouri State Senate from 1851 to 1855, and was Lieutenant Governor from 1857 to 1861. In February 1857 Governor Trusten Polk resigned to accept election to the United States Senate, and Jackson acted as Governor pending the selection of a new Governor in a special election. Robert Marcellus Stewart won the October contest to complete Polk's term, and Jackson resumed his duties as Lieutenant Governor.
