John S. Barry
Encyclopedia
For the American businessman John S. Barry, see John Barry (WD-40)
.
John Stewart Barry (January 29, 1802– January 14, 1870) was the fourth and eighth Governor of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. He was Michigan's only three-term governor in the 19th century. His main accomplishment was bringing the state out of bankruptcy after the Panic of 1837
.
to John and Ellen (Steward) Barry. While he was young, the family moved to Rockingham, Vermont
where he worked on his father's farm and received an education in the local schools. He married Mary Kidder, of Grafton, Vermont
, and in 1824 went to Georgia, Vermont
, where he taught school while studying law. He began to practice law, and while in Georgia he was also a member of the Governor’s staff.
where he became a merchant and was active in politics. In 1834, Barry moved to Constantine, Michigan
and opened a general store in that village's first frame-built building. He became Justice of the Peace
in 1831 while in White Pigeon and continued until 1835. Barry was a prominent participant from the 13th district in the 1835 convention that drafted Michigan's first constitution
.
When Michigan became a state of the Union in 1837, Barry was a State Senator
(1836, 1840) and was recognized as a leader of the state Democratic party. In 1840, Barry became deeply interested in the cultivation of the sugar beet
and visited Europe to obtain information in reference to its culture.
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 Railroad
s 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 Convention
s of 1856
and 1864
.
Barry's home in Constantine is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
John Barry (WD-40)
John Steven Barry , was an American business executive who popularized WD-40, a water-displacing spray and solvent that had been created in the 1950s for use in the space program and spread its use in the consumer market....
.
John Stewart Barry (January 29, 1802– January 14, 1870) was the fourth and eighth Governor of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He was Michigan's only three-term governor in the 19th century. His main accomplishment was bringing the state out of bankruptcy after the Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
.
Early life in New Hampshire and Vermont
Barry was born in Amherst, New HampshireAmherst, New Hampshire
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake....
to John and Ellen (Steward) Barry. While he was young, the family moved to Rockingham, Vermont
Rockingham, Vermont
Rockingham is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, along the Connecticut River. The population was 5,309 at the 2000 census. Rockingham includes the incorporated villages of Bellows Falls and Saxtons River, as well as a large rural area west of Interstate 91.Rockingham has no formal...
where he worked on his father's farm and received an education in the local schools. He married Mary Kidder, of Grafton, Vermont
Grafton, Vermont
Grafton is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded as Thomlinson, but renaming rights were auctioned in 1791. The high bidder, who reportedly offered "five dollars and a jug of rum," changed the name to Grafton after...
, and in 1824 went to Georgia, Vermont
Georgia, Vermont
Georgia is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,375 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles , of which, 39.5 square miles of it is land and 5.7 square miles of it ...
, where he taught school while studying law. He began to practice law, and while in Georgia he was also a member of the Governor’s staff.
Life and politics in Michigan
In 1831, he moved to White Pigeon, MichiganWhite Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,627 at the 2000 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township.-Geography:...
where he became a merchant and was active in politics. In 1834, Barry moved to Constantine, Michigan
Constantine, Michigan
Constantine is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,095 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Constantine Township. It is on U.S. Highway 131, leading to Kalamazoo to the north and to the Indiana Toll Road six miles to the south. The...
and opened a general store in that village's first frame-built building. He became Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1831 while in White Pigeon and continued until 1835. Barry was a prominent participant from the 13th district in the 1835 convention that drafted Michigan's first constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
.
When Michigan became a state of the Union in 1837, Barry was a State Senator
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
(1836, 1840) and was recognized as a leader of the state Democratic party. In 1840, Barry became deeply interested in the cultivation of the sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
and visited Europe to obtain information in reference to its culture.
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
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
first opened for students in 1841 in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
after moving there from Detroit. The Michigan Central
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
and Michigan Southern Railroad
Michigan Southern Railroad
Michigan Southern Railroad could refer to:*The Southern Railroad , built by the state of Michigan *The Michigan Southern Railroad , which bought the state line, and became part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway...
s 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
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
) was established in Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of 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
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Henry Waldron.
Throughout his career, he was a supporter of the Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso, one of the major events leading to the Civil War, would have banned slavery in any territory to be acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War or in the future, including the area later known as the Mexican Cession, but which some proponents construed to also include the disputed...
, 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
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...
. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s of 1856
1856 Democratic National Convention
The 1856 Democratic National Convention, held at Smith & Nixon's Hall in Cincinnati was the first national party nominating convention to be held outside the original thirteen states. Called to order at Noon on Monday June 2 by National Committee chair Robert McLane, Samuel Medary was made the...
and 1864
1864 Democratic National Convention
The 1864 Democratic National Convention was held at The Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. The Convention nominated General George B. McClellan for the Presidency, and Representative George H. Pendleton for the Vice-Presidency. McClellan, age 37 at the time of the convention and Pendleton, age 39,...
.
Retirement and death
Barry retired to private life after the beginning of the ascendancy of the Republican party during Reconstruction, and carried on his mercantile business at Constantine. He died just two weeks before his sixty-eighth birthday, his wife's death having occurred a year previous, on March 30. They left no children.Barry's home in Constantine is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.