John Adair
John Adair - A Famous Scots-American Pioneer, Soldier, Statesman and
Governor of Kentucky
John Adair (1757 - 1840) was a famous Scots-American pioneer, soldier, statesman of Mercer County, Kentucky and 8th Governor Kentucky. He was born on the 9th of January, 1757, in Chester County, South Carolina to a Scottish immigrant, William Adair.
He served in the state militia in the American Revolutionary War, then moved to the Kentucky frontier where he was a delegate in the convention when South Carolina ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. In Kentucky, he continued his participation in the militia, serving as Captain, Major, Lt. Colonel, and ultimately as a Brigadier General. In 1792 Kentucky sent him to their convention to draft the first state Constitution and was elected to the Kentucky state House of Representatives for their 1793 session.
Adair was re-elected to the House of Representatives by Mercer County on thirteen different sessions (the last is 1817). He served as Speaker of the House from 1801 to 1803 and in 1805 he was elected to the United States Senate (to finish the term of John Breckinridge). The following years saw his reputation tarnished and in 1806 he lost the election and resigned.
During the War of 1812 he saw action at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario (1813) and in the Battle of New Orleans (1814) where he led 1,100 Kentucky riflemen in support of General Jackson's expedition that ended with the victory. This restored Adair's reputation and he returned to the House having been elected Governor (1820-1824). John Adair began Kentucky's University system and worked hard for the improvement of highways and commerce. In 1831 Adair was elected to the U.S. House as a Jackson democrat (1831-1833) which was to be his final post in office.
On 19th May, 1840, John Adair died at his home in Harrodsburg and in 1872 his grave was moved to the Frankfort Cemetery in the state capital.
Back to