Benton, Thomas Hart (Old Bullion)

US lawyer and Democratic politician

1782 - Born on the 14th of March in Harts Mill, North Carolina.

1799 - Studied law at the University of North Carolina, but left school to manage the family estate.

1805 - Continued his legal education and was admitted to the Tennessee bar.

1809 - Served a term as state senator.

1812 - Jackson made Benton his aide-de-camp, with a commission as a lieutenant colonel.

1815 - Moved his estate to the newly-opened Missouri Territory.

1821-1851 - Senator from Missouri.

1836 - Drafted Specie Circular.

1853-1855 - Benton served as Representative from Missouri.

1852 - He successfully ran for the United States House of Representatives.

1854 - He ran for governor of Missouri, but lost.

         - Wrote 2-volume memoir "Thirty Years' View".

1858 - Thomas Hart Benton died on 10th of April.

Opposed slavery and paper currency.