Daniel Moreau Barringer
Encyclopedia
Daniel Moreau Barringer (30 July 1806 – 1 September 1873) was a Whig U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
between 1843 and 1849.
Born near Concord, North Carolina
, in 1806, Barringer attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. Graduating in 1826, he went on to study law in Hillsborough
and was admitted to the bar, beginning a law practice in his hometown of Concord in 1829. That same year, Barringer was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons; he would serve there until 1834, and also in 1840 and 1842. He was also a member of the 1835 North Carolina constitutional convention.
In 1842, he was elected as a Whig
to the 28th United States Congress
, and was subsequently reelected to the 29th
and 30th
sessions. During the 30th Congress, he chaired the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State. He became a personal friend of fellow congressman Abraham Lincoln
. Declining to run for a fourth Congressional term in 1848, Barringer was appointed by President Zachary Taylor
as minister to Spain
, where he served from 1849 to 1853. In 1854, upon returning to North Carolina, he served one term in the House of Commons.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War
, Barringer was a delegate to the 1861 Peace Convention
held in Washington, D.C.
, and then after the war was a participant in the Union National Convention of 1866. He became a Democrat
and chaired the North Carolina Democratic Party
in 1872, taking over after the death of Thomas Bragg
. Barringer died September 1, 1873, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
, and was buried in Greenmount Cemetery
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Barringer was the older brother of Civil War cavalry
Brigadier General
Rufus Barringer
. They were nephews of Daniel Laurens Barringer
, who had previously been a Congressman from North Carolina. Barringer's son, Daniel Barringer Jr.
, became famous for proving the meteoritic origins of the Meteor Crater
in Arizona
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1843 and 1849.
Born near Concord, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, in 1806, Barringer attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. Graduating in 1826, he went on to study law in Hillsborough
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
and was admitted to the bar, beginning a law practice in his hometown of Concord in 1829. That same year, Barringer was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons; he would serve there until 1834, and also in 1840 and 1842. He was also a member of the 1835 North Carolina constitutional convention.
In 1842, he was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the 28th United States Congress
28th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats . During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida .- Senate :*President: Vacant...
, and was subsequently reelected to the 29th
29th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, two House seats were added for each of the new states of Texas and Iowa.-Leadership:-Senate:* President: George M. Dallas * President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum...
and 30th
30th United States Congress
The Thirtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, during the last two years of...
sessions. During the 30th Congress, he chaired the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State. He became a personal friend of fellow congressman Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. Declining to run for a fourth Congressional term in 1848, Barringer was appointed by President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
as minister to Spain
United States Ambassador to Spain
-Ambassadors:*John Jay**Appointed: September 29, 1779**Title: Minister Plenipotentiary**Presented credentials:**Terminated mission: ~May 20, 1782*William Carmichael**Appointed: April 20, 1790**Title: Chargé d'Affaires...
, where he served from 1849 to 1853. In 1854, upon returning to North Carolina, he served one term in the House of Commons.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Barringer was a delegate to the 1861 Peace Convention
Peace conference of 1861
The Peace Conference of 1861 was a meeting of more than 100 of the leading politicians of the antebellum United States held in Washington, D.C., in February 1861 that was meant to prevent what ultimately became the Civil War. The success of President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party in the...
held in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and then after the war was a participant in the Union National Convention of 1866. He became a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and chaired the North Carolina Democratic Party
North Carolina Democratic Party
The North Carolina Democratic Party is the North Carolina affiliate of the national Democratic Party in the United States. It is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are located in the historic Goodwin house which is located in the downtown area of Raleigh at 220 Hillsborough Street...
in 1872, taking over after the death of Thomas Bragg
Thomas Bragg
Thomas Bragg was a politician and lawyer who served as the 34th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1855 through 1859. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate States Cabinet. He was the older brother of General Braxton Bragg...
. Barringer died September 1, 1873, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Sulphur Springs is located at ....
, and was buried in Greenmount Cemetery
Greenmount Cemetery
Green Mount Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established on March 15, 1838, and dedicated on July 13, 1839, it is noted for the large number of historical figures interred in its grounds as well as a large number of prominent Baltimore-area families...
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Barringer was the older brother of Civil War cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Rufus Barringer
Rufus Barringer
Rufus Clay Barringer was a North Carolina lawyer, politician, and American Civil War brigadier general.-Early life:...
. They were nephews of Daniel Laurens Barringer
Daniel Laurens Barringer
Daniel Laurens Barringer was a United States Representative from North Carolina between 1825 and 1834.Born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Barringer studied law and practiced in the state capital of Raleigh...
, who had previously been a Congressman from North Carolina. Barringer's son, Daniel Barringer Jr.
Daniel Barringer (geologist)
Daniel Moreau Barringer was a geologist best known as the first person to prove the existence of a meteorite crater on the Earth, the Meteor Crater in Arizona...
, became famous for proving the meteoritic origins of the Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater is a meteorite impact crater located approximately east of Flagstaff, near Winslow in the northern Arizona desert of the United States. Because the US Department of the Interior Division of Names commonly recognizes names of natural features derived from the nearest post office, the...
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.