Alexander Barrow
A Louisiana Whig and wealthy slaveholder whose sudden death in the Senate shifted the political balance during the annexation of Texas.
1801–1846 (age 45)·American politician·Birthday: March 27
Biography
Alexander Barrow embodied the contradictions of his time: a southern plantation owner who was a staunch member of the Whig Party, which was often skeptical of expansionist fervor. Born into a wealthy Louisiana family with deep political connections, Barrow built a successful law practice before entering the U.S. Senate. There, he was a reliable Whig vote, supporting Henry Clay's economic programs and, notably, opposing the immediate annexation of Texas—a position that put him at odds with many southern Democrats. His sudden death from a brief illness in 1846 at age 45 was more than a personal tragedy; it had immediate political consequences. His replacement voted with the Democrats, helping to pass the resolution that finalized Texas's admission to the Union, a twist Barrow himself had worked to delay.
#1 When Alexander Was Born
The biggest hits of 1801
Alexander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1801Born
1806Started school
1814Became a teenager
1817Could drive
1819Could vote
1822Turned 21
1831Turned 30
1841Turned 40
1846Died at 45
Key Achievements
- Served as a United States Senator from Louisiana from 1841 until his death in 1846.
- Was a prominent Whig Party figure in the South, supporting the party's national economic agenda.
- His vacant Senate seat proved crucial in the final vote for the annexation of Texas.
Did You Know?
He was the half-brother of Tennessee congressman and diplomat Washington Barrow.
Barrow owned a large sugar plantation in Louisiana called "Afton Villa."
He died in Baltimore while traveling back to Louisiana from Washington, D.C.
“The Union must be preserved; its Constitution and its laws must be obeyed.”
