4th and 8th Governor of Michigan
He was selected by the Democratic Party to run for Governor in 1841. He won that election and was reelected in 1843.
During Barry's first term, the University of Michigan first opened for students in 1841 in Ann Arbor after moving there from Detroit. The Michigan Central and Michigan Southern Railroads greatly expanded. In 1845, at the end of his second term, the population of the state was more than 300,000.
After a hiatus, the popular Barry was again elected Governor in 1849, serving from 1850 to 1852, becoming the first Michigan Governor to serve non-consecutive terms. During Barry’s third term the Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University) was established in Ypsilanti. A new state constitution was adopted in 1850. He was defeated in 1853 and again ran unsuccessfully in 1859.
He also ran unsuccessfully to be a U.S. Representative from Michigan’s 2nd congressional district in 1856 against Republican Henry Waldron.
Throughout his career, he was a supporter of the Wilmot Proviso, intended to stop the spread of slavery, but he remained a member of the Democratic Party, becoming sympathetic with the "ultra" wing during the Civil War. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1856 and 1864.
Read more about this topic: John S. Barry
Famous quotes containing the word governor:
“I saw the man my friend ... wants pardoned, Thomas Flinton. He is a bright, good-looking fellow.... Of his innocence all are confident. The governor strikes me as a man seeking popularity, who lacks the independence and manhood to do right at the risk of losing popularity. Afraid of what will be said. He is prejudiced against the Irish and Democrats.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)